NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Government

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times she has met the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development in the last 12 months.

Theresa Villiers: I have met the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development twice in the last 12 months.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average rent was for new homes built under the Affordable Homes programme in each local authority from the launch of that programme to date.

Kris Hopkins: The information is not held centrally.

Building Alterations: National Parks

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if it remains Government policy that barn conversions to dwellings without the need for planning permission will not be permitted in national parks; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: As I outlined in my written ministerial statement of 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 51WS, the permitted development right for the change of use from an agricultural building to a dwellinghouse does not apply in national parks. There are no plans to change this. However, we have been clear that we expect national parks and other local planning authorities to take a positive and proactive approach to sustainable development, balancing the protection of the landscape with the social and economic well-being of the area.

Homelessness: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 19 December 2013, Official Report, column 714W, on homelessness: Greater London, what use his Department makes of the statistical return provided to his Department by local authorities in London on the number of homeless families placed out of borough.

Kris Hopkins: Data provided by local authorities are published online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness
	See Live Table 775 for national figures on the number of households placed in temporary accommodation in another local authority district. See ‘Detailed local authority level homelessness figures’ for quarterly data for each local authority.
	The quarterly statistical release ‘Statutory Homelessness in England’ available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics
	provides commentary on these data.
	This Government have invested £470 million to prevent and tackle all forms of homelessness over the spending review period. The homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and vulnerable people who become homeless through no fault of their own.
	No council should be sending tenants en masse to a different part of the country—the law is clear that councils have a responsibility to take into account people’s jobs and schools when securing homes for those in need. And we have given them more power to provide families with suitable, settled accommodation in the private rented sector to avoid long waits in temporary accommodation. Indeed the average stay in temporary accommodation in England has been reduced from 20 months at the beginning of 2010 to 14 months now. The Government have also made £445 million of Discretionary Housing Payments available to local authorities to ease the transition across the welfare reforms in this Spending Review. We expect them to use these effectively to help households who have particular needs to stay, and to give short-term help, for example, through school exams.

Housing: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new houses are under construction in Bassetlaw district.

Kris Hopkins: The Department does not hold data centrally on the number of homes currently under construction. Data are recorded when a building is started, defined as the laying of the foundations and when the residence is completed, defined as when ready for occupation or supplied with a completion certificate. The length of time between these two points will vary and therefore we cannot know how many are currently under construction.
	Statistics on house building starts in Bassetlaw District are published in the Department’s live tables 253 (annually) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:
	http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

Housing: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new houses have been built in Bassetlaw district in each of the last five years.

Kris Hopkins: Statistics on house building completions in Bassetlaw District are published in the Department’s live table 253, which is available at the following link:
	http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

Social Rented Housing

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many tenants from elsewhere in the UK have taken advantage of Home Swap Direct to arrange exchanges to Scotland in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Kris Hopkins: Details of the number of moves that have taken place under the HomeSwap Direct Scheme from elsewhere in the United Kingdom to Scotland in each of the last three years are not held centrally.
	HomeSwap Direct increases opportunities for social tenants who wish to find a new home by allowing tenants looking for a swap to see details of every possible property nationwide, no matter which mutual exchange website their landlord has chosen to subscribe to. The scheme has operated very successfully since its launch in October 2011 with tenants carrying out over 18 million searches of the property data held on HomeSwap Direct.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many reports on equality information and objectives each category of public authority has published under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 in each year since the regulations came into force; and what the cost of producing those reports was for each category of public authority in each such year;
	(2)  how many public authorities in each category of public authority published equality information and objectives under the Equality Act (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 in each year since they came into force.

Edward Vaizey: The specific information requested is not collected or held centrally.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), an independent statutory body, is responsible for the enforcement, monitoring and assessment of how public bodies comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and specific duties. The EHRC has published two reports to date which look at the performance of public bodies in England under the PSED and specific duties:
	‘Publishing equality information: Commitment, engagement and transparency’ was published in December 2012. This report looked at how public authorities had performed with regard to the first specific duty (publication of equality information). Data for this assessment were collected between February and April 2012 and covered 1,159 public authorities in England. The report indicated that about half of the public authorities reviewed were publishing equality information on their workforce and service users by April 2012. Many more (78%) were publishing information on either their staff or their service users.
	‘Assessment of the publication of equality objectives by English public authorities’ was published in Autumn 2013. This report sets out the findings of an assessment of how public authorities in England are publishing equality objectives. Data for the assessment were collected between September and December 2012 and covered 2,010 public authorities.
	These reports do not estimate the associated costs of producing and publishing equalities information.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide that the freeze dates for population size for boundary reviews and the census be in the same year.

Greg Clark: The Government have no plans to do so. Using population figures derived from census data would not provide a better basis for a review of constituency boundaries than using the electoral register.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to disseminate the lessons learned from the data mining pilots for the introduction of individual electoral registrations; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The Government published the results in March 2012 and July 2013 and they can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/60723/FINAL-Data-Matching-Evaluation-Report-new.pdf
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223850/Data_Mining_Evaluation_FULL_Report_FINAL.pdf
	The Electoral Commission also produced their assessment of the pilots. Their reports can be found at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/162106/Data-mining-pilot-evaluation-report.pdf
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/146836/Data-matching-pilot-evaluation.pdf

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the introduction of individual electoral registration in Northern Ireland.

Greg Clark: The experience of Northern Ireland has helped inform the plans for the transition to Individual Electoral Registration (IER) in Great Britain. As a result the approach in Great Britain differs from Northern Ireland in several key respects. Unlike the transition to IER in Northern Ireland in 2002, in Great Britain data matching is being used to ‘confirm’ the majority of current electors on the existing register without them having to make a new application. The transition is being phased over two years, which means no one who registered to vote at the last canvass will lose their right to vote at the General Election in 2015. The annual canvass is also being retained and on-line registration is being introduced to make electoral registration more accessible.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 20 May 2013, Official Report, column 443W, on electoral register, what the results were of his Department’s cooperation with data holding organisations on datasets that can be used to ensure completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Greg Clark: The Government published the results of the pilots in March 2012 and July 2013 and they are publically available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/60723/FINAL-Data-Matching-Evaluation-Report-new.pdf
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223850/Data_Mining_Evaluation_FULL_Report_FINAL.pdf

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official Report, column 387W, on electoral register, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of gathering and holding information on the proportion of attainers who are registered to vote; and what assessment he has made of the usefulness of such information for improving the introduction of individual electoral registration.

Greg Clark: The Government have made no such estimate or assessment.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 623W, on electoral register, what steps he has taken to improve student registration in the run up to individual electoral registration.

Greg Clark: The Government are working with the Higher Education sector to maximise the registration of students.
	Measures include provision of data from the universities to the electoral registration officers to help them contact students individually and promoting the use of online registration, when it becomes available, particularly during course enrolment.
	The Government have produced guidance for university registrars to help them implement these steps before the start of the 2014/15 academic year when students will register under Individual Electoral Registration.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Michael Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will publish the (a) scope, (b) date of commissioning, (c) date of polling and (d) cost of polling commissioned by the Devolution Team in his Department on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters from (i) Ipsos-MORI and (ii) other opinion survey companies since May 2011;
	(2)  if he will publish the (a) scope, (b) date and (c) cost of contracts for public relations services commissioned by the Devolution Team in his Department from (i) Engine Partners and (ii) other public affairs and public relations consultancies since May 2011;
	(3)  if he will publish the findings of all market research on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters commissioned by the Devolution Team in his Department since May 2011;
	(4)  what plans his Department has to commission polling on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters before 18 September 2014; and what the (a) scope and (b) value of each such contract is.

Greg Clark: The UK Government regularly commission independent research to inform and evaluate major policy programmes. Cabinet Office has contracted Ipsos MORI for the purposes of providing market research in relation to the Scotland Analysis Programme. Two formal tenders for this research were issued in March and August 2013 respectively and, as with other tenders for Government contracts, these processes were managed by the Government Procurement Service (now part of the Crown Commercial Service).
	Cabinet Office has also contracted Engine Partners LLP for the purposes of providing communications support work in relation to the Scottish independence referendum. A formal tender for this work was issued in September 2013 and was managed by the Government Procurement Service.
	As part of the Government’s commitment to transparency in expenditure, information relating to the costs of both sets of work is publicly available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data

TRANSPORT

Abbey Railway Line

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that (a) enhanced frequency and (b) restoration of late night trains are mandatory requirements in the specification for the tendering process of Abbey Line between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey station.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport intends to negotiate a Direct Award for the West Midlands franchise to run from April 2016 to June 2017. We will work with the incumbent train operator, London Midland, to consider service enhancements and we will include the Watford Junction-St Albans route in our discussions. Any improvements will have to demonstrate both a positive business case and that they are affordable within the budget provided for the franchise.

Cycling

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last meeting of (a) the Cycle Stakeholders Forum and (b) the safety sub-group of the Cycle Stakeholders Forum took place; and what future meetings are scheduled.

Robert Goodwill: The most recent meeting of the full Cycling Stakeholder Forum was on 30 September 2013 and that of the safety sub-group was on 16 July 2013. The next meeting of the full Cycling Stakeholder Forum is scheduled for 24 June 2014. I am chair of the High Level Cycling Group, a sub-group of the Cycling Stakeholder Forum that meets frequently. The most recent meeting of the High Level Cycling Group was 21 May 2014.

Driving Under Influence: Drugs

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether guidance provided to police officers on the implementation of the new drug driving offence will include information on the position of patients taking legitimately prescribed medications; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance will be provided to police officers on the implementation of the new drug driving offence; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with external stakeholders regarding guidance for police officers of the implementation of the new drug driving offence; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Goodwill: The Department is in regular contact with the Police Service about the implementation of the new drug driving offence and has every confidence that the police will implement it effectively including the application of the statutory medical defence.
	The Police Service is in the process of amending their procedures, which will include the statutory medical defence and its operation. These will be issued in advance of the introduction of the new offence. This will provide each force plenty of time to consider the new procedures. We are confident forces will properly consider and include the new offence alongside current drink and drug drive training.

Driving Under Influence: Drugs

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with external stakeholders on planned communications regarding the new drug driving offence; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 760W, on driving under influence: drugs, what the proposed timetable is for the steps his Department proposes to take to communicate the new drug driving offence.

Robert Goodwill: Officials working on the new drug driving legislation meet regularly with stakeholders from both the law enforcement and health care sectors. These meetings include discussions on how the new offence will be communicated.
	The medical profession has assisted the Department in developing guidance to health care professionals to use in discussion with their patients. We expect to publish the guidance later in the summer and will circulate it to the medical profession. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is currently working with pharmaceutical companies to update the product information of those medicines implicated by the new legislation. MHRA also expects to issue a ‘Drug Safety Update’ article later in the summer to include details about the new offence for health care professionals. This will be accompanied by an article for patients. MHRA also works closely with the British National Formulary to update the prescribing information for medicines as new safety information emerges and will ensure this new information is brought to their attention. The Think! campaign is in the process of being developed but we expect to start informing the public about the new offence just prior to its introduction followed by a more concentrated campaign on its introduction.

Pedestrian Crossings

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in reviewing the adequacy of the amount of time allowed for pedestrians to use pedestrian crossings including those crossings out of the scope of the consultation on the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.

Robert Goodwill: Local councils are responsible for setting pedestrian crossing timings with reference to the Department for Transport's guidance walking speed of 1.2 metres per second.
	The Department is conducting a review of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, which include all pedestrian crossing types, and once that is complete will consider the need to update the guidance.

Railways: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the reopening of the Keswick to Penrith railway line.

Stephen Hammond: In the last two years the Department for Transport has received four letters on the matter. The Department for Transport is aware of an ongoing campaign led by a group called CKP Railways to reopen the Penrith to Keswick line. As any reopening would primarily address local rather than strategic transport needs, it would be for Cumbria county council and the Local Enterprise Partnership to determine whether the reopening of the line is a priority and secure funding from locally allocated funds, such as the Local Growth Fund. We have received no indication that this scheme is a priority for the council.

CABINET OFFICE

Armed Forces: Medals

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  when the proposals on medals policy put forward by Sir John Holmes will be published.
	(2)  which claims for medals remain outstanding following Royal approval of the latest proposals put forward by Sir John Holmes.

Francis Maude: The next set of reviews is to be discussed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours this month.
	An announcement will be made once the full set of reviews is complete and has been approved in the usual way.

Average Earnings: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average weekly gross earnings of full-time (a) men, (b) women and (c) people in York has been in (i) cash terms and (ii) at constant prices in each year since 2006-07.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated June 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average weekly gross earnings of full-time (a) men, (b) women and (c) people in York has been in (i) cash terms and (ii) at constant prices in each year since 2006-07 (198533)
	This information is contained within the York Unitary Authority section of the answer provided to your Parliamentary Question reference 198532. A copy of the table will be placed in the Library of the House.

Average Earnings: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the median gross weekly earnings of (a) men, (b) women and (c) all people employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in the areas covered by (A) York travel to work area, (B) City of York local authority area and (C) York Central constituency (1) in cash terms and (2) at constant prices in each year since 1997.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated June 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the median gross weekly earnings of (a) men, (b) women and (c) all people employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in the areas covered by (A) York travel to work area, (B) York Unitary Authority and (C) York Central constituency (1) in cash terms and (2) at constant prices in each year since 1997 (198532)
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Weekly levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period were not affected by absence. Figures relate to employee jobs, which are defined as those held by employees and not the self-employed. Individuals with more than one job may appear in the sample more than once.
	The tables show estimates of median gross weekly earnings, for male, female and all employees in each area, broken down by full-time and part-time employees. This is provided at current and constant (2013) prices from April 1997 to April 2013, the latest period for which results are available. A copy of these tables will be placed in the Library of the House.

Average Earnings: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of average net weekly household income in the City of York council area in each year since 2004-05 (i) in cash terms and (ii) at current prices.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Joe Grice
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of average net weekly household income in the City of York Council area in each year since 2004-05 in (i) cash terms and (ii) at current prices. (198534)
	Table 1 shows the average net weekly equivalised household income for the City of York Council and York Central constituency areas, both before and after housing costs for the years 2004/05 to 2007/08, the latest period for which data are available, in cash terms and 2013 prices. These figures are based on small area income estimates published by the ONS. The data in the table have been adjusted to 2013 prices, the latest available, using the implied expenditure deflator for the household sector.
	These estimates, as with any involving sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	The next year for which ONS small area income estimates will be available will be 2011/12. The release date for these statistics has not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated that they will be released in January 2015.
	
		
			 Table 1: Average net weekly equivalised household income in the City of York Council and York Central parliamentary constituency areas, 2004-05 and 2007-081,2 
			 £ per week 
			  City of York council York Central parliamentary constituency 
			  Mean income (before housing costs)3 Mean income (after housing costs)3 Mean income (before housing costs)3 Mean income (after housing costs)3 
			 (A) In cash terms     
			 2004-05 410 380 390 350 
			 2007-08 480 400 460 370 
			      
			 (B) In 2013 prices     
			 2004-05 520 480 500 450 
			 2007-08 570 470 540 430 
			 1 Incomes are presented net of income tax payments, national insurance contributions and council tax. 2 Figures rounded to the nearest £10. 3 Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Business: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses there were in City of York local authority area in each year since 2001.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated June 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses there were in the City of York local authority area in each year since 2001.
	Annual statistics on the number of businesses (enterprises) are available from the ONS release—UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/uk-business/index.html
	Data on the number of enterprises broken down by districts, counties and unitary authorities can be found in table B1.1 of the publication.
	The table has been produced using extracts from the Inter Departmental Business Register. (IDBR) It shows the number of enterprises in the City of York local authority area from 2001 to 2013. Data for 2014 will be available at the end of October 2014. The figures in the table have been rounded to protect confidentiality. Please note that these numbers do not include very small businesses, typically those below the threshold for VAT and PAYE.
	
		
			 Count of enterprises in the City of York local authority area, 2001-13 
			  Number 
			 2001 4,760 
			 2002 4,775 
			 2003 4,945 
			 2004 5,090 
			 2005 5,325 
			 2006 5,480 
			 2007 5,690 
			 2008 5,740 
			 2009 5,820 
			 2010 5,745 
			 2011 5,700 
			 2012 5,815 
			 2013 6,065

Civil Servants: North Yorkshire

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent civil servants of each Department or Executive Agency were employed in (a) the City of York and (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs central science laboratory at Sand Hutton on 31 March in each year since 1997.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated June 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent civil servants of each Department or Executive Agency were employed in (a) the City of York and (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs central science laboratory at Sand Hutton on 31 March in each year since 1997 (198536).
	York is defined for the purpose of this information by the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics, Level 3, and may differ from the City of York. The data was not available for York prior to 2008, as data was only collected at regional level, therefore we have provided the information you requested for the years 2008-2013 inclusive in the table.
	
		
			 Civil service employment in York 2008-131,2,3,4, all employees 
			 Full-time equivalent 
			 Department5 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 Attorney-General's Departments 200 320 340 330 300 290 
			 Cabinet Office 0 * 0 0 0 0 
			 Defence (Ministry of) 650 680 710 630 520 470 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Department for) 560 400 380 370 330 360 
			 Food Standards Agency 0 0 0 0 60 60 
		
	
	
		
			 Health (Department of) 90 90 80 100 80 20 
			 HM Revenue and Customs 200 180 180 170 150 130 
			 Home Office 0 * 0 * 0 * 
			 Justice (Ministry of) 260 250 190 150 170 170 
			 Office for Standards in Education 0 0 0 0 0 40 
			 Transport (Department for) 10 10 20 20 20 20 
			 Work and Pensions (Department for) 320 490 490 420 400 380 
			 Total 2,290 2,420 2,390 21,290 2,030 1,940 
			        
			 Employment at DEFRA Food and Environment Research Agency at Sand Hutton6 640 670 720 640 640 690 
			 1 Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, and cells containing between one and five employees are represented by "*". 2 York is defined by the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics, Level 3; this may not be the same as the City of York. 3 Departments with employment greater than 5 m any one year are represented. 4 Information at regional level (Yorkshire and Humberside) covering 1995-2010 is held by the National Archive. 5 Agencies may move Departments over time. This is reflected by some year on year departmental changes. 6 Represented by all civil service employment at postcode YO41 1LZ, which is outside the boundaries of York. Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people eligible to be on the most recent (a) census and (b) electoral register who were not recorded.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Joe Grice, dated June 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number and proportion of people eligible to be on the (a) most recent census and (b) most recent electoral register were not recorded (198969).
	The population of England and Wales was estimated to be 56,075,900 at the 2011 Census and, of these, it was estimated that 3,789,100 did not respond. This implies a coverage rate of 93.2 per cent.
	A summary of the response and coverage rates can be found in the explanatory paper published on 16th July 2012, available at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-data/2011-first-release/first-release--quality-assurance-and-methodology-papers/response-rates-in-the-2011-census.pdf
	An accompanying spreadsheet, showing rates for England, Wales and all local authorities was also published and is available at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-data/2011-first-release/first-release--quality-assurance-and-methodology-papers/census-response-rates.xls
	ONS does not have the data required to answer the question in respect of the electoral register. While data are collected on the number of people who are registered to vote, no data are collected on the number of people who are eligible to vote but who choose not to register. The latest electoral statistics were published on 1 May 2014 and are available from:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/2013/index.html

Employment: Females

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of women in Pendle were in work in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions asking what proportion of women in Pendle were in work in each of the last five years. (198562)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles estimates of the number people in employment from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	The table shows the percentage of women aged 16 to 64 resident in Pendle constituency who were in employment according to survey responses from the APS for the 12 month periods ending in December from 2009 to 2013.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a certain level of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Percentage of women aged 16 to 64 in employment resident in Pendle constituency 
			  Percentage 
			 12 months ending December:  
			 2009 57.7 
			 2010 67.5 
			 2011 62.3 
			 2012 65.4 
			 2013 54.3 
			 Source: Annual Population Survey Table

Government Departments: Telephone Services

Richard Burden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress Departments have made on implementing the Guidance on Customer Service Lines published in December 2013.

Nick Hurd: The guidance we published in December 2013 set out that Departments should use prefixes offering a geographic call rate as a default policy position for the provision of core public services. This was not the case in the past.
	My officials are working with the cross-Whitehall group on customer service lines.
	We will publish information from Departments on their customer telephone lines later in the summer.

Health: Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) subjective and (b) objective measures the Office for National Statistics uses to measure public wellbeing; and whether that Office is considering any changes to those measures.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) subjective and (b) objective measures the Office for National Statistics uses to measure public well-being; and whether that Office is considering any changes to those measures (198857).
	There are currently 41 measures used in Measuring National Well-being. The attached table gives a list of these measures under the ten themes (domains) and is annotated to show which are subjective and which are objective.
	Measuring National Well-being is an ongoing development programme so that the measures and their sources are regularly reviewed.
	
		
			 National Well-being Measures, March 2014 
			 Domain Measure  
			 Personal well-being Medium/high rating of satisfaction with their lives overall Subjective 
			  Medium/high rating of how worthwhile the things they do are Subjective 
			  Rated their happiness yesterday as medium/high Subjective 
			  Rated their anxiety yesterday as medium/low Subjective 
			  Population mental well-being Objective 
			    
			 Our relationships Average rating of satisfaction with family life Subjective 
			  Average rating of satisfaction with social life Subjective 
			  Has a spouse, family member or friend to rely on if they have a serious problem Subjective 
			    
			 Health Healthy life expectancy at birth (male/female) Objective 
			  Reported a long term illness and a disability Subjective 
			  Somewhat, mostly or completely satisfied with their health Subjective 
			  Some evidence indicating symptoms of anxiety or depression Objective 
			    
			 What we do Unemployment rate Objective 
			  Somewhat, mostly or completely satisfied with their job Subjective 
			  Somewhat, mostly or completely satisfied with their amount of leisure time Subjective 
			  Volunteered more than once in the last 12 months Objective 
			  Engaged with/participated in arts or cultural activity at least 3 times in last year Objective 
			  Adult participation in 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport, once per week Objective 
			    
			 Where we live Crimes against the person (per 1,000 adults) Objective 
			  Felt fairly/very safe walking alone after dark (men/women) Subjective 
			  Accessed natural environment at least once a week in the last 12 months Objective 
			  Agreed/agreed strongly they felt they belonged to their neighbourhood Subjective 
		
	
	
		
			  Households with good transport access to key services or work (2010 = 100) Objective 
			  Fairly/very satisfied with their accommodation Subjective 
			    
			 Personal finance Individuals in households with less than 60% of median income after housing costs Objective 
			  Median wealth per household, including pension wealth Objective 
			  Median household income Objective 
			  Somewhat, mostly or completely satisfied with the income of their household Subjective 
			  Report finding it quite or very difficult to get by financially Subjective 
			    
			 The economy Real net national income per head Objective 
			  UK public sector net debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product Objective 
			  Inflation rate (as measured by the Consumer Price Index) Objective 
			    
			 Education and skills Human capital—the value of individuals' skills, knowledge and competences in labour market Objective 
			  Five or more GCSEs A* to C including English and Maths Objective 
			  UK residents aged 16 to 64 with no qualifications Objective 
			    
			 Governance Voter turnout (at UK General Elections) Objective 
			  Those who have trust in national Government Objective 
			    
			 The natural environment Total green house gas emissions (millions of tonnes) Objective 
			  Protected areas in the UK (millions hectares) Objective 
			  Energy consumed within the UK from renewable sources Objective 
			  Household waste that is recycled Objective

National Income: South East

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the gross value added was for the (a) Brighton and Hove and (b) South Hampshire built-up areas in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the gross value added per capita was for the (a) Brighton and Hove and (b) South Hampshire built-up areas in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated June 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions (199400 and 199401) asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the latest estimates of gross value added (GVA) and GVA per capita were for the (a) Brighton and Hove, and (b) South Hampshire built-up areas.
	ONS produces regional estimates of GVA for areas according to the European classification Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS). The smallest areas for which GVA estimates are produced are at the NUTS3 level, which generally corresponds to counties and unitary authority areas.
	There is a NUTS3 area that corresponds directly to the Brighton and Hove unitary authority area. However, for South Hampshire there is no single area that matches your request. There are NUTS3 areas for both Portsmouth and Southampton unitary authorities, with the remainder of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight having separate NUTS3 areas.
	Below are the latest figures (provisional estimates for the year 2012) for Brighton and Hove, Portsmouth, Southampton, and a combined Portsmouth/Southampton aggregation that is not published but has been calculated by combining the two NUTS3 areas.
	
		
			 Area Total GVA (£ million) GVA per capita (£) 
			 Brighton and Hove 5,712 20,712 
			 Portsmouth 4,471 21,617 
			 Southampton 4,656 19,446 
			 Portsmouth and Southampton 9,127 20,452 
		
	
	These figures are taken from the Regional GVA (Income Approach) statistical bulletin published in December 2013:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/regional-accounts/regional-gross-value-added--income-approach-/december-2013/stb-regional-gva-2012.html

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biofuels: Air Pollution

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 8 May 2014, Official Report, column 272W, on biofuels: air pollution, for what reasons estimated social costs of biomass emissions of fine particles contained in his Department's answer of 26 March 2009, Official Report, column 697W, on air pollution, were not reflected in that answer; and for what reasons his Department no longer estimates the social costs of fine particles emitted by biomass combustion.

Dan Rogerson: The social (health) costs included in the answer of 26 March 2009 were calculated by DEFRA to evaluate specific scenarios of uptake of biomass heat in 2020. These costs were calculated for policy development purposes in accordance with Treasury Green Book guidance and methodologies developed with the support of the Interdepartmental Group on Costs and Benefits.
	Estimates of emissions by source (including biomass emissions) are updated annually and reported in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, but social (health) costs by emissions source are not routinely calculated.
	Estimates of the health burden due to total anthropogenic fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the UK are calculated as part of the Public Health Outcomes Framework indicator. This is based on modelled annual population weighted mean total anthropogenic PM2.5 levels in the UK.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether (a) the Prime Minister or (b) officials in his Office ever advised the National Farmers' Union not to communicate with journalists during the commencement phase of the pilot badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire in 2013;
	(2)  what meetings his Department had with the National Farmers' Union in the six months before the start of the pilot badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset in 2013; and whether he advised that union to operate a media blackout during the first phase of the culls;
	(3)  what meetings (a) the Prime Minister and (b) officials in his Office had with the National Farmers' Union (NFU) on the pilot badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset in 2013; what advice he has given to the NFU on communications with the media during the commencement of the culls; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: Meetings were held with the National Farmers Union in the six months prior to the start of the pilot culls in 2013.
	There was no media blackout during the pilots. DEFRA and the National Farmers Union continued to make spokespeople available to talk to the media throughout the period in which culling was taking place.
	However, both the National Farmers Union and DEFRA were always clear that operational information that could compromise the effectiveness of the cull or the safety of those involved would not be disclosed during the operation.

Energy: Waste

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of export of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel for use in energy from waste plants overseas on the availability of such fuel for similar plants in the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will review the export of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel for use in energy from waste plants overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: We published a call for evidence on the refuse-derived fuel market in England on 12 March. This included a request for evidence on the effect that exports of refuse-derived fuel had on its availability on the domestic market. The call for evidence closed on 9 May. We are currently analysing the evidence submitted, which will aid our understanding of the situation, help us to determine whether there is a need for some form of intervention and, if so, help us to develop policy options.

Energy: Waste

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) refuse-derived fuel and (b) solid recovered fuel produced in the UK exported annually for use in energy from waste plants overseas.

Dan Rogerson: In 2012 (the most recent year for which definitive figures are available), 977,452 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel and 7,783 tonnes of solid recovered fuel were exported from England and Wales for use in energy from waste plants. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are collected separately and fall under the responsibility of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive respectively.

Energy: Waste

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) refuse-derived fuel and (b) solid recovered fuel produced annually in the UK.

Dan Rogerson: Data cannot be obtained on the amount of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel produced annually in the UK. The amount of refuse-derived fuel received at incineration plants in England in 2012 was 768,173 tonnes and the amount of refuse-derived fuel exported from England and Wales in 2012 was 977,452 tonnes.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the funding formula for flood defence; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA regularly receives representation from those seeking Government funding for flood and coastal risk management schemes to be more focused on delivering a particular type of outcome such as improved protection for homes, agricultural areas or infrastructure at risk of flooding. These representations are not in a consistent direction.
	A recent external evaluation found that, on the whole, the current partnership funding approach is progressing well in meeting its policy objectives and that the funding formula should not be changed at present.
	Our focus is on working with Risk Management Authorities and local communities to put together a six-year investment programme on the basis of the current funding formula, for announcement this autumn. The programme will reduce flood risk for 300,000 households by March 2021.

Floods

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the Flood Defence Repair Fund paid to the Environment Agency has been (a) allocated to the Environment Agency and (b) spent by the Environment Agency to repair flood defences to date.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA has made available to the Environment Agency an additional £30 million in 2013-14 and up to £135 million in 2014-15, to respond to the winter floods and repair flood and coastal defences. The Environment Agency spent £31.2 million on repairs and emergency response between January and March 2014. This includes £26 million on asset repair costs, £1.5 million of which was paid to local authorities. The remaining £5.2 million was spent on other associated costs, such as incident management and emergency response. These are the latest figures available.

Floods

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the Repair and Renew Grant for flooded businesses or households has been (a) allocated to local authorities and (b) received by households or businesses to date.

Dan Rogerson: Local authorities make payments to households and businesses and invoice DEFRA quarterly for these amounts. We are expecting the first invoices in July.

Floods

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of his Department's partnership funding framework has been spent on property level protection schemes to date.

Dan Rogerson: Property Level Protection describes a suite of measures used in places where other solutions are either not cost effective or not practical. The amount allocated to schemes since the partnership funding approach was launched in 2012 is £2.43 million. This consists of £2.08 million in grant in aid from the Government, and contributions of £0.35 million from partners.

Livestock: Transport

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to check all lorries containing live animals for export at UK ports.

George Eustice: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) takes a risk-based approach to vehicle inspection in relation to exports of livestock for slaughter. The Government have no plans to change this approach.

Water: Drugs

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 41W, on drinking water, whether his Department has conducted a study of levels of psychotropic drugs in UK rivers and seawater.

Dan Rogerson: Currently no psychotropic drugs have been identified as Priority Hazardous Substances, Priority Substances or UK Specific Pollutants under the Water Framework Directive. As such no routine monitoring is carried out for these substances in England.
	However, previous research by the Environment Agency on pharmaceuticals in surface waters included environmental monitoring for the psychotropic drug fluoxetine (an anti-depressant). In 2005, monitoring was undertaken in rivers downstream of a number of sewage works across England and Wales. 39 samples were taken with fluoxetine occurring in 85% of samples with a maximum concentration of 0.044 microgrammes/litre, and norfluoxetine in 51% of samples with a maximum concentration of 0.083 microgrammes/litre.
	During 2011, a programme of monitoring for pesticides was undertaken in six catchments. The psychotropic drugs carbamazepine and gabapentin were detected in all six catchments with maximum levels of 0.7 microgrammes/litre and 1.2 microgrammes/litre respectively.
	The report published by the Drinking Water Inspectorate evaluated the risk from psychotropic drugs in river water used for abstraction for drinking water supplies.

Water: EU Law

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what basic measures his Department takes in relation to (a) controls on abstraction and (b) preventing and controling pollutants from diffuse sources in order to comply with Article 11.3 of the Water Framework Directive.

Dan Rogerson: Controls on water abstraction are applied through the licensing system operated by the Environment Agency, which sets out prior authorisation and control of water abstractions and impoundments.
	Measures to prevent and control pollutants from diffuse sources include:
	i. Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. These make it an offence to cause or knowingly permit a water discharge activity or groundwater activity, except under, and to the extent authorised by, an environmental permit. The Environment Agency regulates discharges under the environmental permitting regime. It can carry out works itself to rectify activities causing pollution, or issue anti-pollution works notices to require work to take place to prevent, remedy or prohibit pollution, as well as prosecuting offenders if pollution does take place;
	ii. the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008, which aim to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution and the risk of further such pollution occurring. The regulations implement the Nitrates directive, and apply within designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (57% of England);
	iii. the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (England) Regulations 2010, which set standards for storing silage, livestock slurry and agricultural fuel oil to minimise the risk of water pollution. These are applicable nationally; and
	iv. cross-compliance requirements for those farmers claiming direct payments and those participating in various rural development schemes.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Boilers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to encourage households off the mains gas grid to use condensing boilers.

Michael Fallon: The Government fully recognise that Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and oil, like other fossil fuels, will continue to play a part in the UK’s energy mix, while the way we heat our homes changes. DECC has introduced the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme to support renewable heating systems. The domestic RHI is targeted predominately at off-gas grid households, by compensating for the additional costs faced when replacing an oil boiler with a renewable heating system. New incentives for oil and LPG boilers would undermine the balance struck in the design of the RHI, and potentially cause confusion for consumers.
	The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) will continue to support oil and LPG condensing boilers for low income and vulnerable households. By February this year around 320,000 households were helped under ECO. We are making changes to ECO to provide a greater incentive for targeting measures at off-gas grid households.

Boilers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons condensing oil and liquefied petroleum gas condensing boilers were excluded from being eligible technologies for the purposes of the receipt of monies from the Green Deal Improvement Fund.

Gregory Barker: DECC has introduced the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme to support renewable heating systems. The RHI aims to compensate householders for the additional costs they face when installing a renewable heating system compared to an oil heating system. The domestic RHI is targeted at, but not limited to, homes off the gas grid. Incentivising oil and LPG boilers in this context would undermine the design of the RHI, and potentially cause confusion for consumers. For more vulnerable customers, support is available through the Energy Company Obligation, with proposals to strengthen this support for off-grid properties. For these reasons, DECC considers it appropriate to exclude these heating measures from the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) scheme.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Bankruptcy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) bankruptcy orders were granted and (b) individual voluntary arrangements were agreed in each (i) region of England and (ii) London borough in (A) 2011-12, (B) 2012-13 and (C) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement.

Jennifer Willott: Figures for the number of bankruptcies, debt relief orders and individual voluntary arrangements in each region of England and each London borough in 2011 and 2012 can be found in the tables below. The sum of these procedures represents the total number of individual insolvencies in each area.
	The Insolvency Service compiles its regional individual insolvency statistics on a calendar year basis, therefore financial year totals are not available. Figures for 2013 will be available on the Insolvency Service website from 10 July 2014.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of Bankruptcies, Debt Relief Orders and Individual Voluntary Arrangements in each Region of England, 2011-121 
			  Bankruptcies Debt Relief Orders Individual Voluntary Arrangements 
			 Region 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 
			 North East 2,367 1,834 1,907 2,090 3,046 3,000 
			 North West 5,491 4,378 3,993 4,465 6,718 6,608 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 4,317 3,295 2,791 3,278 5,147 4,692 
			 East Midlands 3,902 2,743 2,553 2,649 4,501 4,330 
			 West Midlands 3,756 2,943 2,984 3,306 5,224 4,805 
			 East of England 4,141 3,149 3,053 3,102 4,904 4,857 
			 London 4,047 3,256 2,528 2,371 4,228 3,956 
			 South East 5,756 4,180 3,372 3,500 7,302 6,686 
			 South West 4,564 3,615 3,966 4,269 4,519 4,661 
			        
			 England 38,341 29,393 27,147 29,030 45,589 43,595 
			 1 Where individual has provided a valid postcode 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of Bankruptcies, Debt Relief Orders and Individual Voluntary Arrangements in each London borough, 2011-121 
			  Bankruptcies Debt Relief Orders Individual Voluntary Arrangements 
			 London borough 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 
			 City of London 3 6 0 1 2 5 
			 Barking and Dagenham 131 95 78 89 178 187 
			 Barnet 160 138 44 37 160 147 
			 Bexley 126 103 63 82 190 151 
			 Brent 131 88 57 78 148 138 
			 Bromley 144 148 57 69 154 155 
			 Camden 101 90 70 71 58 71 
			 Croydon 199 187 96 71 266 261 
			 Ealing 148 115 36 49 147 137 
			 Enfield 154 140 82 55 165 177 
			 Greenwich 114 108 198 171 157 142 
			 Hackney 136 87 95 71 111 94 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 79 61 58 35 66 67 
			 Haringey 164 95 83 83 101 104 
			 Harrow 103 68 25 13 95 105 
			 Havering 137 110 55 68 152 138 
			 Hillingdon 116 121 48 62 175 160 
			 Hounslow 136 107 59 62 183 163 
			 Islington 117 86 122 113 87 73 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 84 80 68 60 42 33 
			 Kingston upon Thames 66 52 44 44 56 69 
			 Lambeth 126 95 116 105 141 128 
			 Lewisham 130 104 111 105 145 151 
			 Merton 90 71 49 25 91 100 
			 Newham 138 109 112 116 187 166 
			 Redbridge 133 141 67 79 140 114 
			 Richmond upon Thames 72 57 65 45 60 63 
			 Southwark 130 134 80 91 150 136 
			 Sutton 111 93 100 91 175 103 
			 Tower Hamlets 180 104 100 93 129 98 
			 Waltham Forest 144 96 167 147 135 126 
			 Wandsworth 112 72 61 56 108 132 
			 Westminster 132 95 62 34 74 62 
			        
			 London 4,047 3,256 2,528 2,371 4,228 3,956 
			 1 Where individual has provided a valid postcode 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures do not account for any changes in the base population over time. Using the rate of bankruptcies per 10,000 adults allows for a like-for-like comparison across years.
	Headline figures for insolvencies in England and Wales can be found in the quarterly “Insolvency Statistics” release, a National Statistics publication. Figures for January-March 2014 were published on 29 April 2014, and can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/insolvency-statistics-january-to-march-2014
	Annual numbers and rates of bankruptcies by region for 2000-2012 are available in the “Individual Insolvencies by Region” publication, which can be found at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/insolvency-statistics-individual-insolvencies-by-region

Business: Billing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to speed up payments by public bodies and private concerns to small businesses; and what recent assessment he has made of average payment times.

Matthew Hancock: We announced further reforms to public procurement on 30 May to speed up payments by public bodies to small businesses. These include improvements to e-invoicing, procurement processes and greater powers for Ministers to investigate complaints raised by the Cabinet Office’s ‘mystery shopper scheme’.
	We have also announced new legislation that will require larger businesses to report on their payment performance and practices. Increasing transparency and driving openness is at the heart of building a more responsible payment culture that UK businesses need to thrive.
	Recent research suggests that UK businesses experience an average 17 day delay to payment of invoices. This is a reduction in the past two years but a figure that is still too high and is holding back investment and growth.

Conditions of Employment

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of zero-hours contracts in the UK which bar any additional employment.

Jennifer Willott: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not collected any quantitative information on the number of zero-hours contracts in the UK which bar any additional employment. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggested, in its report ‘Zero Hours Contracts: Myth and reality’ that 9% of workers on zero-hours contracts reported that they were never allowed to work for another employer when their primary employer had no work for them.

Diabetes

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on research for a cure for Type 1 diabetes in the last three years; and if he will take steps to increase such funding in the forthcoming financial year.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the seven Research Councils sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The MRC funds a broad portfolio of diabetes research which amounted to £24 million in 2012/13. Of this, £3.6 million (15%) is relevant to Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). This includes underpinning studies relevant to diabetes in general, as well as studies on the prevention, treatment and the downstream consequences of T1D. Expenditure on T1D research over the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Medical Research Council expenditure on Type 1 diabetes, 2008/09 to 2012/13 
			  Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2008/09 4.7 
			 2009/10 3.7 
			 2010/11 3.6 
			 2011/12 4.0 
			 2012/13 3.6 
			 Note: Where a research project is related to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, 100% of the project value has been included in the totals shown above. 
		
	
	The MRC does not routinely analyse expenditure on diabetes research beyond an analysis of T1D and Type 2 Diabetes research. However, details of all research supported by the MRC, including summaries describing the aims of the research and links to research publications and outputs can be found on the Research Council UK’s Gateway to Research at:
	http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/
	The MRC does not normally allocate funds to particular topics but always welcomes high quality applications into any aspect of human health. All applications are judged in open competition and the primary considerations in funding decisions are scientific quality and importance to human health. In keeping with the Haldane principle, decisions on research priorities and funding are taken by the Research Councils based on advice from the scientific community through peer review.
	The Technology Strategy Board spend on T1D in the last three years was £354,879.00. This relates to a project which ran in 2010/11.

Insolvency

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many insolvencies there were in each (a) region of England and (b) London borough in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement.

Jennifer Willott: Figures for the number of individual insolvencies in each region in England and each London borough in 2011 and 2012 can be found in the following tables. Individual insolvency figures include bankruptcy orders, debt relief orders and individual voluntary arrangements.
	The Insolvency Service compiles its regional individual insolvency statistics on a calendar year basis, therefore financial year totals are not available. Figures for 2013 will be available on the Insolvency Service website from 10 July 2014.
	Regional breakdowns for the number of company insolvencies are not currently available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of individual insolvencies in each region of England, 2011-121 
			 Region 2011 2012 
			 North East 7,320 6,924 
			 North West 16,202 15,451 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 12,255 11,265 
			 East Midlands 10,956 9,722 
			 West Midlands 11,964 11,054 
			 East of England 12,098 11,108 
			 London 10,803 9,583 
			 South East 16,430 14,366 
			 South West 13,049 12,545 
		
	
	
		
			 England 111,077 102,018 
			 1 Where individual has provided a valid postcode. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of individual insolvencies in each London borough, 2011-121 
			 London borough 2011 2012 
			 City of London 5 12 
			 Barking and Dagenham 387 371 
			 Barnet 364 322 
			 Bexley 379 336 
			 Brent 336 304 
			 Bromley 355 372 
			 Camden 229 232 
			 Croydon 561 519 
			 Ealing 331 301 
			 Enfield 401 372 
			 Greenwich 469 421 
			 Hackney 342 252 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 203 163 
			 Haringey 348 282 
			 Harrow 223 186 
			 Havering 344 316 
			 Hillingdon 339 343 
			 Hounslow 378 332 
			 Islington 326 272 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 194 173 
			 Kingston upon Thames 166 165 
			 Lambeth 383 328 
			 Lewisham 386 360 
			 Merton 230 196 
			 Newham 437 391 
			 Redbridge 340 334 
			 Richmond upon Thames 197 165 
			 Southwark 360 361 
			 Sutton 386 287 
			 Tower Hamlets 409 295 
			 Waltham Forest 446 369 
			 Wandsworth 281 260 
			 Westminster 268 191 
			 London total 10,803 9,583 
			 1 Where individual has provided a valid postcode. 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures do not account for any changes in the base population over time. Using the rate of bankruptcies per 10,000 adults allows for a like-for-like comparison across years.
	Headline figures for insolvencies in England and Wales can be found in the quarterly “Insolvency Statistics” release, a National Statistics publication. Figures for January-March 2014 were published on 29 April 2014, and can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/insolvency-statistics-january-to-march-2014
	Annual numbers and rates of bankruptcies by region for 2000-12 are available in the Individual Insolvencies by Region publication, which can be found at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/insolvency-statistics-individual-insolvencies-by-region

New Businesses: Disability

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assistance is available to disabled people who wish to start their own businesses.

Matthew Hancock: We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for all people setting up and growing a business, including disabled people.
	The website:
	www.gov.uk/business
	is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the ‘Business Finance and Support Finder' that can provide a customised source of Government backed support and finance for business. The website:
	www.greatbusiness.gov.uk
	also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.
	In addition to online support, the Business Support Helpline (0300 456 3565) is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start-up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 19 loans worth a total of £53,855 have been drawn down in Kilmarnock and Loudoun to date.
	Finally, the New Enterprise Allowance helps people claiming certain out of work benefits to start up their own business. As of March 2014, 7,420 disabled people (or a total of 40,420) had started a new business with the help of the NEA.

Students: Loans

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider changing student loan payments from three termly instalments to monthly instalments; and what steps his Department has taken to help students learn to budget.

David Willetts: The Government are not currently intending to change student loan payments from three termly instalments to monthly instalments. Payments of living costs support for full-time students in higher education at the start of each term give students the flexibility to meet up-front costs such as accommodation costs.
	Advice on effective budgeting is available through the BIS Student Finance Tour where recent graduates share their personal experience with prospective students on how to manage their living costs spending while at university. Around 120,000 prospective students attended the Tour in 2013, and the aim is to increase this number to 140,000 in 2014. Budgeting advice is also available through university student support services including the Money Doctors Initiative. Additional resources are available through the National Union of Students and the National Association of Student Money Advisers.

DEFENCE

Air Force

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 29 April 2014, Official Report, column 636W, on the Air Force, 
	(1)  whether any such UK personnel are embedded or otherwise interact with the (a) 22nd, (b) 30th, (c) 867th and (d) 732nd Air Force Reconnaissance Squadrons;
	(2)  whether any such UK personnel are embedded or otherwise interact with the US Air Force's 17th Reconnaissance Squadron.

Mark Francois: 732nd is an Operations Group which comprises four Reconnaissance Squadrons—17th, 22nd, 30th and 867th. No UK Remotely Piloted Air System personnel are embedded with, or interact with the 732nd Operations Group Squadrons.

Astute Class Submarines

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts are outstanding in the Astute programme.

Philip Dunne: The following table describes the current Ministry of Defence contracts solely for the Astute class submarine programme. All contracts, except serial 9, are with BAE Systems Marine Ltd. Once in service, platforms, including the Astute class, are supported via extant Fleet wide arrangements.
	
		
			 Serial Contract Description 
			 1 Batch 1 The build of Astute boats 1-3. 
			 2 Boat 4 The build of Astute boat 4. 
			 3 Boat 5 The provision of long-lead materials and activities to support the build of Astute boat 5. 
			 4 Boat 6 The provision of long-lead materials and activities to support the build of Astute boat 6. 
			 5 Boat 7 The provision of long-lead materials and activities to support the build of Astute boat 7. 
			 6 Base Spares To provide the initial spares provisioning for Astute boats leaving Barrow. 
			 7 — Foundation Placed to deliver the savings required by the 2010 SDSR through performance improvement and cost-benefit initiatives. To note that this contract impacts on both the Astute and Successor programmes. 
			 8 Submarine Design Services The provision of In Service technical assistance. 
			 9 Astute Class Training Service A PFI contract for the provision of Astute class crew training. The contract is placed with FAST Training Services Ltd (a consortium of BAE Systems, L-3 Communications and Babcock International).

Cyprus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to decide whether Cape Pyla in the Cyprus sovereign base area of Dhekelia will be designated as a protected area.

Mark Francois: Designation of Cape Pyla as a Special Area of Conservation under the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance 2007 is being considered. As part of this process, the Administration must take account of representations about the proposed designation before making a final decision. It is hoped that a decision on designation can be achieved in 2015, following the consultation period and work to determine the precise boundaries of the designated area.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the through life cost is for each of the 14 Voyager aircraft.

Philip Dunne: We do not possess through life cost information for individual aircraft in the Voyager fleet. Under the Voyager PFI solution the MOD is not buying aircraft but a 27 year integrated Air Transport and Air to Air Refuelling service which is underpinned by the provision of 14 aircraft, the infrastructure, personnel, training and training school (including a full mission simulator), aircraft maintenance and engineering, spares, despatch and ground support. The outturn value of the contract is £10.5 billion over 27 years, excluding fuel and other associated usage costs.

HMS Montrose

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when HMS Montrose will take over the Fleet Ready Escort task; and what ship it will replace in that role;
	(2)  what maintenance HMS Montrose will undergo before being assigned to the Fleet Ready Escort task; and whether such tasking after a long deployment is a regular occurrence.

Mark Francois: HMS Montrose was previously deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. She returned to the UK for a period of planned maintenance and post-deployment leave before conducting a short port visit in London and then participating in a NATO Exercise.
	Royal Navy ships are programmed in accordance with our operational requirements, but for security reasons we do not discuss specific future operational tasking.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any RAF pilot has flown the Joint Strike Fighter B at (a) supersonic speeds, (b) above 18 degrees angle of attack and (c) past 4.5 g-force.

Philip Dunne: The RAF test pilot at NAS Patuxent River routinely flies the Joint Strike Fighter B at supersonic speeds, above 18 degrees angle of attack and past 4.5 g-force.

Libya

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish his Department's assessment of lessons learned from the recent Libyan campaign.

Mark Francois: The Department has a very thorough lessons learned process which is normally applied when an operation is initiated. However, due to operational security sensitivities we do not, as a matter of course, publish the findings of such processes. We have no plans to publish any lessons learned from Op Ellamy.

Nigeria

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide an update on the use of his Department's resources to help efforts to locate abducted girls in northern Nigeria.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence is contributing to the international effort to find the missing school girls through the deployment of a Sentinel surveillance aircraft to help improve the intelligence picture, complementing other international intelligence and surveillance assets. UK military personnel have also been deployed to a multi-national intelligence fusion team based in Nigeria, whose role is to assist the Nigerians in their efforts to locate the girls.

Nimrod Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total disposal cost of the Nimrod MRA4 airframes.

Philip Dunne: The Nimrod MRA4 airframes were dismantled on the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD’s) behalf by Metal and Waste Recycling Ltd at a cost of around £500,000. As part of the contractual arrangements with the company, the MOD received receipts from the sale of the dismantled airframes to the value of just over £1 million.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue accruing to the Exchequer from air passenger duty in respect of (a) domestic and (b) international flights from each airport in Scotland in 2013-14.

Nicky Morgan: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collect information on the contribution to air passenger duty (APD) revenues made from flights to or from specific airports or countries.
	HMRC has published a set of statistics presenting estimates of the disaggregation of tax receipts between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disaggregation-of-hmrc-tax-receipts
	The estimate for the total amount of APD revenues attributable to Scotland in 2012-13 was £227 million. This estimate is not broken down by revenues from domestic and international flights.
	Information on APD revenues and passenger numbers by band is available at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutyBulletins.aspx
	Information on the number of passengers flying to and from UK airports is available at:
	http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=80&pagetype =88&pageid=3&sglid=3#Data

Banks: Loans

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received about the publication of personal and business lending data by postcode; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will require banks and their financial institutions to release further personal and business lending data by postcode; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will require banks to publish data on the number of new small business accounts in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will require the Prudential Regulation Authority to conduct an analysis of recently released personal and business lending data by postcode to examine (a) levels of disparity in lending and (b) progress in achieving financial inclusion; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: In July 2013 the Government announced that they had reached an agreement with the major UK banks to publish lending data across 10,000 individual postcodes.
	The first dataset was published in December 2013 and shows the outstanding stock of lending that has been committed to customers across three categories: loans and overdrafts to SMEs, mortgages and unsecured personal loans (excluding credit cards).
	The data will allow challenger banks, smaller building societies, credit unions and community development finance institutions (CDFIs) to find areas where there is a lack of lending so they can offer finance to those customers who are crying out for support to help their business grow.

Cash Dispensing

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to improve access to free-to-use cash machines.

Andrea Leadsom: 95% of communities in the lowest quartile of the Government deprivation index now have free-to-use ATMs within their area or less than two thirds of a mile from the area’s centre. This has brought access to free-to-use ATMs to over 1.5 million people and progress towards covering even more communities continues.
	LINK has established a Financial Inclusion Programme to provide free-to-use ATMs where they are needed, by installing ATMs that are subsidised to make their operation commercially viable for operators. The cost of this subsidy is shared out among LINK member banks. 1,400 target areas now have access to an industry subsidised ATM through the programme.
	I am aware Toynbee Hall is due to complete research on this issue shortly.

Gaming Machines: Taxation

Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the threshold charge payable for a type 2 machine for the purposes of calculating machine gaming duty was set at £5.

David Gauke: I refer the right hon. Member to the Explanatory Note for Clause 117 of Finance Bill 2014, which can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/298680/ENs_Finance_Bill_2014__1_.pdf

Gold: Prices

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 29W, if he will make an assessment of the effect of US regulatory authorities' interventions in the gold market on gold market-related securities in ISAs.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government monitor developments in the gold market including, where relevant, regulatory action in other jurisdictions. The Government are committed to taking action, whenever necessary, to ensure the efficient functioning of these essential markets.

Gold: Prices

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Bank of England has engaged in any selling, leasing, loaning, hypothecating or re-hypothecating either independently or in conjunction with other parties, which could have had the effect of lowering or suppressing the quoted market price of gold since May 2010.

Andrea Leadsom: The Bank of England has not been active in the gold market during or since May 2010, either in its own capacity, or acting as agent for Her Majesty's Treasury for the UK's official reserves (the "Exchange Equalisation Account" or EEA).
	As a result, the Bank did not engage in any selling, leasing, loaning, hypothecating or re-hypothecating of gold during this period.

Mortgages: Huntingdon

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been made (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully under the second stage of the Government's Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme in Huntingdon constituency.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government publishes quarterly official statistics relating to the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme. The first of these were published on 29 May 2014.
	This report, along with accompanying tables, can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-to-buy-mortgage-guarantee-scheme-quarterly-statistics-october-2013-to-march-2014

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislative proposals to exempt people in receipt of attendance allowance from paying vehicle excise duty.

Nicky Morgan: Consistent with the approach taken by successive Governments there are no plans to exempt attendance allowance recipients from Vehicle Excise Duty. However, all taxes are kept under review as part of the annual Budget process.

Personal Savings: Young People

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage young savers.

David Gauke: At the Budget it was announced that, from 1 July 2014, the limits for Junior ISAs and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) will rise from £3,720 to £4,000.
	Following a public consultation, the Government have decided to allow the transfer of savings from CTFs to Junior ISAs. We are committed to ensuring that there is a clear and simple way to save for all children and believe that parents should be allowed the opportunity to transfer from a CTF to a Junior ISA if they consider this to be the most appropriate account for their child.
	The Government have clauses in the Deregulation Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, which will enable the transfers. We hope this option to transfer will be available by April 2015.

Remittances

Angie Bray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent progress has been made on enabling the continuation of money transfer abroad from UK financial institutions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with its Somali counterpart on ensuring that remittances can continue from UK financial institutions;
	(3)  when the action group on remittances will next meet to consider the issue of money transfer abroad.

Andrea Leadsom: The UK Government are committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. The progress of the Action Group on Cross Border Remittances is on track and the group is next due to meet on 27 June 2014. Further information on the Action Group, including future meeting dates can be found on the group’s web page:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances
	A key output of the group is improved guidance, both for financial institutions which provide banking facilities for MSBs and for MSBs themselves on how to comply with their anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism obligations. These two key pieces of guidance were endorsed by the Action Group in its most recent meeting and are subject to normal approval processes.
	The UK Government are liaising closely with the Somali Government on activity under way to ensure the continued flow of remittances from the UK to Somalia. The ambassador of Somalia to the UK (or his representative) has attended all of the Advisory Group Meetings for the UK-Somali Safer Corridor. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and World Bank have also held bilateral meetings with the ambassador.

Tax Allowances: Pensions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of equalising the tax relief given on employee contributions to pension schemes at 30%.

David Gauke: Estimates of the Exchequer effect of equalising the tax relief given on employee contributions to pension schemes at 30% are not available.

JUSTICE

Buses: Accidents

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions coroners have attributed motor accidents involving fatalities to the age and deterioration of tyres on coaches since 1994.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice collects data from coroners on the deaths reported to them for the annual Coroners Statistics bulletin.
	The bulletin is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics-2013
	The statistical information is collected in summary form and does not include data at the level of detail requested.

Claims Management Services

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of how many claim management companies operated in each region since 2008;
	(2)  how many claims management companies were operating in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each year from 2008 to 2014.

Shailesh Vara: With rigorous new measures being brought in across the board, we are taking strong action to rein in the rogue firms operating in this sector.
	Continued action to remove licences from companies with poor practices alongside forthcoming claims management regulation reforms proves just how much work is going on to get tough on companies that defy the rules and bombard the public with unwelcome calls and misleading information.
	We are changing the law to further toughen the regime, including introducing fines, and ensuring firms cannot buy in any contact details which have been gathered unlawfully.
	The number of claims management companies (CMCs) operating in each region between April 2008 and April 2014 were as follows:
	
		
			 Regional analysis 
			  April 
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 
			 East 107 134 165 173 146 138 114 
			 East Midlands 56 97 131 139 152 137 120 
			 London 253 378 545 531 524 444 340 
			 Northern Ireland 0 0 5 3 3 6 4 
		
	
	
		
			 North East 30 71 95 98 76 68 49 
			 North West 514 685 784 803 775 706 576 
			 Overseas 6 11 9 6 3 16 13 
			 Scotland 21 26 30 32 28 29 33 
			 South East 193 294 358 370 361 326 267 
			 South West 62 81 100 113 113 100 93 
			 Wales 61 73 95 81 101 88 66 
			 West Midlands 206 321 408 404 358 292 208 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 230 316 366 387 329 245 176

Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many unfilled posts of each grade there were in the Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust in (a) April and (b) May 2014;
	(2)  how many unfilled posts of each grade there were in the Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust in each month since January 2012.

Jeremy Wright: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Vacancies were managed locally by probation trusts which have now ceased to exist.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Acanchi

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answers of 12 May 2014, Official Report, column 328W, on developing countries: marketing and of 21 June 2004, Official Report, coumn 1215W to question to 179188 on ACTIS/CDC, what the nature of the work conducted by Acanchi was; and how much was paid for that work.

Justine Greening: CDC is a public limited company with an independent management and Board. DFID is not involved in CDC operational matters and therefore does not hold the information requested.

Afghanistan

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on contracts for consultancy groups on the Bost Agri-Business Park and Airfield projects in Afghanistan in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to him on 5 March 2013, Official Report, column 967-68W.

Consultants

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria her Department uses for decisions on contracts to consultancy groups on development projects.

Justine Greening: Procurement tendering processes conducted by my Department are completed in accordance with EU directives. Contracts are awarded following a competitive tendering process. Invitations to tender are specific to the nature of the intervention required.

Consultants

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many consultancy groups currently have global contracts with her Department as development implementers.

Justine Greening: Procurement tendering processes conducted by my department are completed in accordance with EU directives. Contracts are awarded following a competitive tendering process. Invitations to tender are specific to the nature of the intervention required.
	DFID has no contracts providing global services.

Developing Countries: Females

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries in receipt of her Department's funds in each of the last two financial years women are known to have been murdered (a) for apostasy and (b) in honour killings with impunity; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: Given that globally one in three women will experience violence in her lifetime, preventing violence against girls and women in all its forms is a priority for DFID. While DFID does not collect or hold the information in the form requested, the UK has prioritised addressing violence against women and girls around the world. We are also committed to help 10 million women access justice through the courts, police, and legal assistance by 2015.

India

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to investigate allegations that employees of programmes in Bihar State funded by her Department are not receiving their salaries.

Alan Duncan: DFID is aware of a contractual dispute between a contractor to the Government of Bihar and its sub-contractors. We have looked into this, and are clear that this is now a matter for the Government of Bihar.

Nigeria

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2014, Official Report, columns 549-50W, on Nigeria, whether her Department collects these data on a state-by-state basis.

Lynne Featherstone: The 2008 Demographic and Health Survey is conducted by the National Population Commission. The data requested are collected on a national basis rather than state by state.

Overseas Aid

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is her Department's policy to send only departmental development experts to oversee development projects overseas.

Justine Greening: DFID sends a variety of developmental experts to oversee projects overseas.

Syria

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she made of the humanitarian situation in Syria; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The humanitarian crisis in Syria has reached catastrophic proportions. The UN estimates that 9.3 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid within Syria. At least 6.5 million people in Syria have been forced to flee their homes to other areas of the country and there are now over 2.8 million refugees in the region.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum: Children

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 66W, on asylum: children, which local authorities have used the fund and how much to support asylum seekers who are care leavers in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The total amount of funding provided in each of the five years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2013-14 11.9 
			 2012-13 12.9 
			 2011-12 15.3 
			 2010-11 20.3 
			 2009-10 11.0 
		
	
	The figures for 2009-13 inclusive are taken from the audited accounts of the UK Border Agency. Figures for 2013-14 are provisional and subject to audit and possible adjustment.
	The following lists the local authorities that receive the leaving care funding.
	Local authorities receiving leaving care funding, 2009-14
	Barking and Dagenham
	Barnet
	Bexley
	Bedfordshire
	Birmingham
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Bromley
	Cambridgeshire
	Camden
	City of London
	Croydon
	Ealing
	Enfield
	Greenwich
	Hackney
	Hammersmith
	Hampshire
	Haringey
	Harrow
	Havering
	Hertfordshire
	Hillingdon
	Hounslow
	Islington
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Kent
	Kingston
	Lambeth
	Leeds
	Leicestershire
	Lewisham
	Lincolnshire
	Liverpool
	Manchester
	Newcastle
	Newham
	Northamptonshire
	Oxfordshire
	Redbridge
	Richmond
	Sheffield
	Slough
	Solihull
	Southwark
	Staffordshire
	Suffolk
	Surrey
	Thurrock
	Tower Hamlets
	Waltham Forest
	Warwickshire
	West Sussex
	Westminster
	Worcestershire.

Legal Aid Scheme

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many cases funded by legal aid taken against her Department where public interest lawyers have represented clients were won by her Department in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  in how many cases against her Department funded by legal aid public interest lawyers represented clients in each of the last 10 years.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office does not keep a central record of which cases brought against it are legally aided, or of the law firms that represent litigants.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Immigration and Security Minister dated 7 April 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Asif Khan Uriakhel.

James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 20 May 2014.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 8 April 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Naraendra Singh Bhati.

James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 20 May 2014.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Immigration and Security Minister dated 7 April 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M. Frimpong.

James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 20 May 2014.

Private Investigators

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 13 May 2014, Official Report, 462W, on private investigation, whether she plans to consult upon the terms and conditions of licences for private investigators prior to their implementation under the new statutory licensing requirement.

Karen Bradley: The Security Industry Authority (SIA)—the regulator of the private security industry—will engage with the private investigations sector on the development of licensing criteria and conditions prior to the implementation of the new licensing regime.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken with UN Women in the planning of the June 2014 summit to end sexual violence in conflict.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is working closely with a broad range of UN agencies who work on sexual violence, including UN Women. UN Women have provided a valuable contribution to Summit planning, as well as the wider development of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative and will have an active role at the Summit. The FCO will continue to work with UN partners, including UN Women, to ensure that Summit outcomes and ongoing work on this agenda are supportive of the UN Action 2014-2017 Strategic Framework.

Balkans

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department has provided to (a) Serbia and (b) Bosnia-Herzegovina following recent flooding in those countries.

David Lidington: I discussed the impact of the floods with Prime Minister Vucic of Serbia in Belgrade on 2 June and with Prime Minister Bevanda in Sarajevo on 3 June. During my visit to the region I also met the Serbian Red Cross and travelled to Maglaj in Bosnia-Herzegovina to meet the Mayor and representatives of World Vision.
	In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), between 18 and 23 May a 33 person water rescue team from the British Fire Service was deployed to work alongside EUFOR Operation Althea and local rescue efforts. They rescued nearly 200 people, delivered large amounts of humanitarian aid, and helped restore power in villages North of Bijeljina.
	In Serbia, the UK provided 64 radios for the Serbian Ministry of the Interior, to assist with the coordination of their response teams, and donated £280,000 worth of heavy lift and transport vehicles to the Serbian Red Cross to aid their relief distribution effort.
	A team from the UK flew out to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the week commencing 20 May to assess likely humanitarian and recovery needs. During my visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina I was able to announce that the UK had approved £250,000 to support a World Vision flood response project in the region focusing on sanitation and health and providing support for 140,000 people made homeless by the floods.
	In addition to this bilateral support, the UK provided support to BiH, Serbia and Croatia through the EU, UN and other international organisations. In BiH, EUFOR Operation Althea, to which the UK contributes troops in-theatre and in reserve, assisted the BiH Armed Forces in their response to the flooding. The First Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who provide part of EUFOR’s intermediate reserve, and are in BiH for a routine operational rehearsal, will assist the BiH Armed Forces in this regard.
	The UK has worked closely with the EU European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), and offered advice and assistance during all phases of the flood response effort. ECHO have released €3.2 million in humanitarian aid to support the most vulnerable population in BiH and in Serbia (to which the UK will have contributed 15%).
	The Government will work closely with the UNDP, the EU and other international organisations to assess what further help might be given to help both Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina recover from the impact of the floods.

Burma

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which women's organisations from Burma have been invited to the global summit on sexual violence in conflict being held in London in June 2014.

Hugo Swire: Women's organisation representatives from the Karen Women's Action Group, the Gender Equality Network and the Women's League of Burma have all been invited and are attending the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. In addition, faith leaders and other civil society activists are attending as part of a Burmese civil society delegation. I will be hosting this delegation in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 10 June.

Central African Republic

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken in response to the recent violence in the Central African Republic.

Mark Simmonds: The UK is working closely with international partners to ensure an effective and co-ordinated international response to the current humanitarian and security crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR). The UK will continue to work with the AU and UN to ensure the effectiveness of the AU mission as well as the effective deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation. The UK has also provided airlifts to help with deployment of the EU security mission (EUFOR); has provided a planning officer to the Operational Headquarters; and is providing a share of EUFOR’s common costs as well as engaging with EU partners on EUFOR’s approach and rules of engagement. We remain the second largest provider of humanitarian aid, having given £23 million since the crisis began. I last spoke with interim President Catherine Samba-Panza on 23 May.

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether officials from the British Embassy have visited Huber Ballesteros in La Picota prison in Bogota;
	(2)  how many times officials from the British Embassy have asked to visit Huber Ballesteros in La Picota prison in Bogota;
	(3)  what representations his Department has made to the Colombian authorities over the treatment of Huber Ballesteros in the last eight months;
	(4)  whether officials from the British Embassy will observe the trial of Huber Ballesteros in Colombia;
	(5)  what preliminary hearings in the case of Huber Ballesteros officals from the British Embassy in Bogota have attended.

Hugo Swire: The UK cannot interfere in Colombia’s judicial process but will continue to raise any concerns regarding due process and conditions with the Colombian authorities.
	The embassy is currently awaiting authorisation from the Municipal Criminal Court to visit Huber Ballesteros in prison.
	To date, the British embassy has not yet been authorised to visit Huber Ballesteros in prison, this is despite requesting permission on six different occasions.
	No representatives of the British embassy were able to attend the preliminary hearings in the case of Huber Ballesteros due to unrelated security concerns. His trial will take place on 26 and 27 of June and the British embassy intends to send officials to observe this.

Commonwealth

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions on (a) collective action to promote human rights and (b) accountability for violations of the Commonwealth Charter were held at the Commonwealth Law Ministers' Meeting in May 2014.

Hugo Swire: The Commonwealth Law Ministers discussed a wide range of issues relating to human rights, rule of law and preventing violence against women, as well as the Commonwealth's activities in these areas, during their meeting in May 2014. We welcomed their acknowledgement that a number of challenges and gaps remain in the Commonwealth, particularly in members' ratification of the nine core international human rights treaties, their engagement with the United Nations Universal Periodical Review (UPR) mechanism and in their establishment of national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles.
	The UK underlined the need for the Commonwealth and its members to adhere to the values and principles in the Commonwealth Charter at all times and secured improved wording in the final communiqué—not least agreement that the fundamental values of the Commonwealth Charter must be taken into account in the context of work to tackle violence against women and a commitment to review implementation of the Latimer House Principles.
	We continue to encourage the Commonwealth Secretariat and member states to uphold the commitments in the Commonwealth Charter. We also continue to urge the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, as the custodian of Commonwealth values, to take action where infringements of the charter occur.

Commonwealth

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the resources and effectiveness of the Commonwealth Human Rights Unit; and what discussions he has had with (a) his Commonwealth counterparts and (b) the Commonwealth Secretariat on the role of the Commonwealth Human Rights Unit.

Hugo Swire: We support the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Human Rights Unit and welcome the Secretariat’s recent statement confirming that the budget and staffing for the Unit has more than doubled under the Commonwealth’s four-year Strategic Plan, which was agreed by all Commonwealth members in May 2013.
	We monitor the work of the Human Rights Unit through our membership of the Commonwealth Executive Committee and Board of Governors. The Board of Governors last met on 29 May.
	The Human Rights Unit undertakes valuable work in assisting member states with the adoption of international standards on human rights; providing support to member states in the Universal Periodic Review process; and in enhancing the capacity of Commonwealth members’ national human rights institutions. Through our regular dialogue with the Secretariat on human rights, we urge them to work across the Commonwealth to uphold the values and principles agreed in the Commonwealth Charter.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of (a) exports to and (b) imports from Egypt was in each of the last three years.

Hugh Robertson: According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK imports from Egypt were worth £1.36 billion in 2010, £1.41 billion in 2011 and £1.21 billion in 2012. Over the same period, UK exports to Egypt were worth £1.77 billion in 2010, £1.70 billion in 2011 and £1.59 billion in 2012. ONS figures from 2013 will be published in October 2014.

Iran

Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart about the destruction of an historically important Bahá'í cemetery in Shiraz.

Hugh Robertson: I was deeply concerned to learn of the destruction of a Baha'i cemetery in Shiraz, where approximately 950 Baha'is are buried. On 14 May 2014, I made a statement on this issue, calling for Iran to abide by its international commitments to ensure all Iranians are free to practise their religion without fear of persecution. This includes protection of religious sites.

Iran

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call on the Iranian authorities to halt the destruction of an historically important Bahá’i cemetary in Shiraz; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: I was deeply concerned to learn of the destruction of a Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz. On 14 May 2014, I made a statement on this issue, calling for Iran to abide by its international commitments to ensure all Iranians are free to practice their religion without fear of persecution. This includes protection of religious sites.

Iran

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards negotiating a peaceful solution with Iran on the nuclear issue.

Hugh Robertson: The November interim agreement between the E3+3 and Iran was a significant first step to resolving the nuclear issue. It has created time to negotiate a comprehensive agreement. On this we are making progress although we are under no illusion about the difficulty of reaching a successful outcome. Talks resume on 16 June in Vienna, with the aim of reaching an agreement by the 20 July which is when the interim deal currently expires.

Members: Correspondence

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter of 13 May 2014 from the hon. Member for Harrow West regarding Mr Dipesh Vadera of Harrow; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), responded to the right hon. Member on 9 June 2014.

Morocco

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on allegations of human rights violations perpetrated by the Moroccan Security Forces.

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the allegations against the Moroccan Security Forces, particularly when policing demonstrations. We regularly emphasise to Morocco the importance of respect for human rights in Western Sahara, including when policing demonstrations. I raised this during my visit to Rabat in March this year.

Pakistan

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to address human rights abuses in Pakistan.

Hugh Robertson: Pakistan is included as a “country of concern” in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights Report. We regularly raise the subject of human rights for all Pakistan’s citizens with the Government of Pakistan in accordance with their constitution and international standards. The Prime Minister and other Ministers raised human rights concerns with the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his recent visit.

Thailand

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Thai government on the restoration of democracy in that country.

Hugo Swire: Following a statement by the Foreign Secretary on 22 May, I made a statement on 25 May expressing my strong concerns about the situation in Thailand and calling for a clear timetable for elections and the restoration of democracy.
	Our ambassador to Thailand has communicated through senior Thai civilian officials our serious concerns about the military takeover. Through them, he has urged the Thai military authorities to provide a clear and detailed timetable for the restoration of civilian government. Most recently he met with the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 3 June. The Head of ASEAN Department in London met the Thai chargé d’affaires, also on 3 June to deliver the same message. Our Defence Attaché in Bangkok meets members of the Thai military on a daily basis and repeats these points each time.
	We have made it clear to the Thai authorities that we will not continue to have normal bilateral relations until an elected government is in place. We are currently reviewing the scope of our cooperation with Thailand.
	We are consulting with EU members, the US, Australia and other allies, to ensure that the international community speaks with one voice on this.

Ukraine

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of political developments in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: On 25 May the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) congratulated the Ukrainian people on the conduct of the presidential election. The high turnout showed the Ukrainian people's determination to decide their own future without outside interference, and sent a decisive signal of their support for unity, reform and a new future for their country. The Foreign Secretary also paid tribute to election commission staff who were subjected to appalling levels of intimidation by illegal armed groups who sought to deny the citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk their right to vote but who strove to do their duty, and to the citizens in eastern Ukraine who overcame all obstacles to vote or who tried to do so. Each vote cast there was an individual act of courage.
	The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) spoke to Mr Petro Poroshenko on 30 May, congratulating him on his election as the President of Ukraine and welcoming his clear messages on democracy and financial and political reform. The Prime Minister also praised the Ukrainian people for their determination to hold elections in such difficult circumstances and choose their own future, offering his continued support in helping Mr Poroshenko to build a secure and prosperous Ukraine through an inclusive national dialogue.
	On 4 June G7 Leaders welcomed the successful conduct under difficult circumstances of the 25 May Ukrainian presidential election, and commended Mr Petro Poroshenko for reaching out to all the people of Ukraine. G7 Leaders stand by the Ukrainian government and people in the face of unacceptable interference in Ukraine’s sovereign affairs by the Russian Federation, and call upon the illegal armed groups to disarm. G7 Leaders continue to encourage the Ukrainian authorities to maintain a measured approach in pursuing operations to restore law and order and fully support the substantial contribution made by the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to the de-escalation of the crisis through the Special Monitoring Mission and other OSCE instruments. The G7 remains committed to continuing to work with Ukraine to support its economic development, sovereignty and territorial integrity and encourages the fulfilment of Ukraine's commitment to pursue the difficult reforms that will be crucial to support economic stability and unlock private sector-led growth.
	G7 Leaders confirmed the decision by G7 countries to impose sanctions on individuals and entities who have actively supported or implemented the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and who are threatening the peace, security and stability of Ukraine. G7 countries are implementing a strict policy of non-recognition with respect to Crimea/Sevastopol, in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262 and stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to implement significant additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require.
	The Prime Minister met President Putin on 5 June and reiterated that there is an opportunity for a successful, peaceful and stable Ukraine, but the current situation needs to change. He said that Russia must properly recognise and work with this new president and there must be action to stop arms and people crossing the border.

USA

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the full release of the United States Select Intelligence Committee’s report on the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program.

Hugh Robertson: The release of the Committee’s report is a matter for the United States.

USA

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have made representations or had discussion or meetings with (a) the United States Select Intelligence Committee or (b) others on the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program.

Hugh Robertson: The British Government have an ongoing dialogue with the United States over its detention and interrogation programs. As part of engagement with the US Congress, our embassy in Washington has met with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to discuss its work, including in relation to the detention and interrogation program.

Western Sahara

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a statement cautioning UK businesses against investing in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara.

Hugh Robertson: The British Government advise companies considering investing in Western Sahara to obtain independent legal advice. We make companies aware that such investment raises complex and sensitive issues.
	We consider Morocco to be the de facto administering power of Western Sahara. We therefore consistently encourage Morocco to meet its commitments under Chapter XI, Article 73 of the UN Charter by ensuring that it acts to protect and further the interests of the people of the territory. This includes ensuring that the resources of the territory are used for the benefit of the people of the territory.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of MINURSO in implementing its role in Western Sahara.

Hugh Robertson: MINURSO is effective in implementing its role in Western Sahara. MINURSO is mandated to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the POLISARIO: the situation in Western Sahara is generally calm and the ceasefire continues to hold.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of changes in the number of Moroccan troops along the Berm in Western Sahara from the levels specified in the 1991 agreement.

Hugh Robertson: In its 2014 report to the UN Security Council, the UN peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara (MINURSO) recorded that the estimated number of troops along the Berm has not recently changed. It also states that this number is believed to exceed the provisions of the 1991 agreement.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of providing a BSL interpreter for each individual needing one to fill an access to work position adequately.

Michael Penning: Access to Work is a discretionary grant award designed to assist disabled people and their employers to overcome individual barriers encountered at work. We assess the costs for all awards, including those for BSL interpreter support, against the specific needs of individual customers. As such, there is no single estimate of the cost of the support the scheme provides.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken for decisions on requests for reconsideration of fit for work decisions in relation to applications for employment and support allowance has been since October 2013.

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of mandatory reconsideration periods have exceeded 14 days; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Department is collecting information to understand how the introduction of mandatory reconsideration is operating, including completion timescales. However, these data are not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available.
	In the production of new statistics, which all the above would be, the Department works to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet the high quality standards expected. Departmental statisticians need to assure themselves of the quality of administrative data sources before releasing information as official statistics, and before the exact timing and format of statistics can be confirmed.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a statutory limit on the length of time decision makers in his Department can take to respond to a request to reconsider a refusal of employment and support allowance.

Michael Penning: We have no plans to introduce a statutory time limit for deciding a mandatory reconsideration.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange for replies to be sent to the hon. Member for Walsall North to his letters to the Chief Operating Officer, Pension, Disability and Carers Service of 7 April and 7 May; and if he will arrange for a substantive reply to be sent to that hon. Member to his letter to the Chief Executive, Capita-PIP ref PIP100 34851/101 of 7 April 2014 on behalf of a constituent.

Michael Penning: A reply to all of the issues that you raised in both of your letters will be sent to you by one of our directors by 13 June 2014.

Personal Independence Payment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who have submitted a claim for personal independence payment and have been waiting for more than six months for a medical assessment in (a) the UK, (b) London and (c) the London Borough of Harrow; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in each (a) region of England and (b) London borough had been waiting six months or longer for a medical examination as part of their assessment of entitlement to a personal independence payment on 1 May 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: We are committed to ensuring personal independence payment (PIP) claimants receive high quality, objective, fair and accurate assessments. Since the introduction of PIP new claims in April 2013, we have been closely monitoring all aspects of the process.
	As personal independence payment (PIP) is a new benefit, processes are currently bedding in. Our latest analysis is telling us that the end-to-end claimant journey is taking longer than expected. We are working closely with the assessment providers to ensure that they are taking all necessary steps to improve performance, speed up the process and ensure claimants receive a satisfactory experience. We are also seeking to ensure that all the steps in the process run as smoothly as possible and that there are no barriers in our processes and systems that contribute to claims taking longer than necessary to progress.
	The first official statistics for the number of people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were published on 5 June alongside updated statistics on PIP new claim registrations, decisions and awards.
	Statistics on clearance times are not being published at this stage. Statistics on clearance times are intended for future publication but releasing them at this stage would give a skewed representation of the process since steady state has not yet been reached and natural reassessment has yet to roll out across the country.

Personal Independence Payment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects Mr Andrew Cottrell of Prenton, to undergo his medical examination as part of his application for the personal independence payment.

Michael Penning: The Department cannot respond to the House of Commons with regards to a specific case. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman.

Personal Independence Payment

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of applicants who have faced delays to their personal independence payment claim because of partial PA4 IT failures in the past 12 months.

Michael Penning: The requested data are not held by the Department.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households have been subject to the benefit cap in (a) each parliamentary constituency and (b) each local authority area in Scotland.

Esther McVey: Information on the number of households subject to the benefit cap in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland has not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Information on the number of households subject to the benefit cap in each local authority in Scotland has been published and is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-to-march-2014

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households subject to the benefits cap in (a) each parliamentary constituency and (b) each local authority area in Scotland have received transitional support via discretionary housing payment to date.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not available.

Unemployed People: Travel

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of refunding travel expenditure by jobseekers to jobcentres in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency was between January 2014 and May 2014.

Esther McVey: The cost of refunding travel expenditure by Jobseekers to Jobcentres in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency between January 2014 and May 2014 was :
	January 2014 to May 2014: £1,456.88

Work Capability Assessment

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants died in each month of the last three years (a) after attending a work capability assessment and (b) having been assessed as fit for work and then appealed, but died before that appeal was heard.

Michael Penning: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Work Capability Assessment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects Atos to appoint new agency staff to administer appeals on reassessment of eligibility for disability benefits.

Michael Penning: Appeals on the disability benefits are administered and heard by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. Atos has no role to play.

Work Capability Assessment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration is given to fibromyalgia in the work capability assessment; and how many and what proportion of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia have been declared fit for work following such an assessment.

Michael Penning: As with any medical condition, DWP recognises fibromyalgia as a potentially significantly disabling condition. The statistical information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust on its emergency ambulance cover;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the quality of emergency ambulance cover in the North West;
	(3)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust on its ability to meet emergency 999 calls in the Greater Manchester area.

Jane Ellison: There have been no recent discussions between the Department and the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust on these matters. Decisions about ambulance services are a local matter and it is for clinical commissioning groups to ensure appropriate services are provided to their populations.
	Patients have a right to high quality and reliable urgent and emergency care, whenever they call on it, and we expect all ambulance trusts to provide this.
	The North West Ambulance Service met the three ambulance performance standards for 2013-14 and in April 2014.

Arthritis

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis received treatment within three months of symptom onset in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013;
	(2)  what average number of GP visits was required prior to diagnosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.

Norman Lamb: Information concerning the number of patients diagnosed with either rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis on an annual basis is not collected.

Asthma

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that patients discharged from hospital following a severe asthma attack receive appropriate care and support in the community; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of patients with asthma who have received an asthma care plan; and when he expects all patients with asthma to have received such a plan;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to improve the quality of care given by GPs to people with asthma.

Jane Ellison: Information on the number of asthma patients with a care plan is not collected. However, the Government’s mandate to NHS England says that by 2015, everyone with a long term condition should be offered a personalised care plan.
	NHS England is supporting clinical commissioning groups to improve out of hospital treatment for those with asthma by giving doctors more control over the commissioning of asthma services and improving information links between general practitioners and hospitals. The implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence asthma quality standard, that sets out what good quality care looks like, will also raise the standard of care people with asthma receive.
	NHS England, through its National Clinical Director for Respiratory Disease, will continue to work with Asthma UK and professional groups in both primary and secondary care to improve outcomes for all those with asthma.

Asthma

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the National Review of Asthma Deaths, published on 6 May 2014.

Jane Ellison: We welcome the report of the UK National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) which provides a wealth of information about the causes of mortality from asthma.
	While death rates from asthma have fallen steadily over the past three decades, and the number of deaths is small compared with those from cancer and heart disease, we are concerned about the proportion of deaths in children and young people that, in theory, could be preventable.
	Patients (including children and young people) should be reviewed regularly and have personal action plans in place. They and their families or carers should know the right medications to use at the right times and how to use them, and understand the importance of monitoring their condition and how to do this. NHS England has a programme of work in place through a “house of care” model to help ensure that patients with long term conditions such as asthma, can largely self-manage their condition with appropriate support from health care professionals.

Carers

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve support for carers.

Norman Lamb: Carers are central to the Government’s reform of social care and support, with significant improvements in the Care Act 2014 which extends carers’ rights to an assessment which will be based on the appearance of a need for support. For the first time, local authorities will be required to meet carers’ eligible needs for support.
	We have provided £400 million to the national health service over four years from 2011 for carers to have breaks from their caring responsibilities. For 2015-16, the carers’ breaks funding will be in the Better Care Fund.
	We have also provided more than £2 million in recent years to the professional bodies such as the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Nursing, Carers UK and the Carers Trust to develop initiatives to raise early awareness of carers among health care professionals and to help identify and support carers. We have committed more than £1 million in 2014–15 to enable these organisations to build on this work and to develop new initiatives.
	We set out our vision for transforming primary care in ‘Transforming Primary Care: Safe, proactive, personalised care for those who need it most’. It recognises the importance of involving and supporting carers and sets out a clear expectation for general practitioners to identify carers as a matter of course.
	Carers are also central to the work that NHS England is leading to improve the quality of life of people with long term conditions. Their action plan, ‘NHS England’s Commitment to Carers’ includes a series of commitments around eight priorities, including raising the profile of carers.

Dental Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the efficacy of the General Dental Council's fitness to practise regime.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has made no recent assessment of the efficacy of the General Dental Council's fitness to practise regime.
	It is the role of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) to independently review the performance of the regulators on an annual basis, to check how effective the regulators have been in protecting the public and promoting confidence in health and care professionals.
	Further information on the PSA reviews can be found on their website using the following link:
	www.professionalstandards.org.uk/

Diabetes

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support, advice, guidance and funding his Department makes available for children and adults diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Jane Ellison: Our overall aim is for all people with diabetes to have the right support to manage their condition, with access to specialist care when they need it. To help deliver this, NHS England has set out in “Action for Diabetes” how it will support improvements in outcomes for people with diabetes, focusing on earlier diagnosis of all diabetes, and support for people to manage their diabetes and so improve their quality of life.
	In addition, NHS England has recently piloted a sample service specification for the management of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes based on the NICE Quality Standard for Diabetes with a number of clinical commissioning groups. This is a tool that commissioners can choose to use to deliver high quality care and offers a model for commissioning integrated care for those with diabetes. It highlights the specific care needs for those with Type 1 diabetes where they differ from those with Type 2 diabetes.
	Also, the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) makes a significant contribution to global research on Type 1 diabetes, in particular through its world-class research infrastructure. The NIHR Clinical Research Network is currently recruiting to 32 studies in Type 1 diabetes, in addition to 58 studies relevant to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Expenditure by the NIHR on research on Type 1 diabetes through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards rose from £1.8 million in 2011-12 to an estimated £2.8 million in 2013-14.

Endometriosis

Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to help women suffering from endometriosis;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to raise awareness of endometriosis.

Daniel Poulter: Information on endometriosis is readily available to health care professionals and the public. Both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and NHS Choices have published information for the public on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Further information can be found on the RCOG website:
	www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/endometriosis-what-you-need-know
	and NHS Choices website:
	www.nhs.uk/conditions/Endometriosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
	To support women with endometriosis all obstetricians and gynaecologists have been trained in the diagnosis, investigation and management of the condition, which is specifically listed as a topic in the core curriculum for obstetrics and gynaecology. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology has published clinical guidelines on the management of women with endometriosis to assist clinicians.
	In addition, NHS England has developed a service specification for severe endometriosis under the specialised commissioning area of complex gynaecology. NHS England expects all units providing a service to women with severe endometriosis to provide care which meets the standards laid out in a specification which can be found on their website:
	www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/e10-comp-gynae-endom-0414.pdf

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome in each of the last four years.

Jane Ellison: The following table contains the number of finished admission episodes where there was either a primary or secondary diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome in England.
	It should be noted that these figures are not a count of people as the same person may have had more than one episode of care within any given time period.
	
		
			 Number of finished admission episodes (FAEs)1 with either a primary or secondary diagnosis2 of fetal alcohol syndrome3 for the years 2009-10 to 2012-13.4 
			 Age 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 0 45 45 34 68 
			 1 27 40 31 25 
			 2 20 17 27 22 
			 3 6 16 10 36 
			 4 10 8 17 14 
			 5 5 9 16 5 
			 6 6 4 11 9 
			 7 27 4 20 6 
			 8 5 23 5 8 
			 9 4 5 40 5 
			 10 7 7 2 4 
			 11 1 5 6 8 
			 12 3 2 8 5 
			 13 4 5 2 4 
			 14 1 4 1 7 
			 15 1 — 4 3 
			 16 2 4 — 2 
			 17 1 — 4 1 
			 18+ 9 14 32 20 
			 Total 184 212 270 252 
		
	
	
		
			 1 Finished admission Episodes (FAEs) A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 2 Number of episodes in which the patient had a primary or secondary diagnosis The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. 3 ICD-10 diagnosis code ICD-10 diagnosis code used Q86.0 Fetal alcohol syndrome (dysmorphic). 4 Assessing growth through time (Admitted patient care) HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Data quality: HESs are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. Health and Social Care Information Centre liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC)

Health Professions

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology his Department uses to calculate workforce requirements for (a) community physiotherapists, (b) podiatrists and (c) occupational health therapists; and what future projection he has made of staffing levels in such professions.

Daniel Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) was established to ensure a greater connection between the needs and demands of local employers and education and training commissions. HEE holds information contributing to, and is responsible for, the secure supply of the England NHS funded workforce.

Health: Business

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which companies that have been asked to report on progress relating to the Responsibility Deal have not yet done so.

Jane Ellison: Reports from Responsibility Deal (RD) partners are published on the RD website as they are submitted and processed, which takes place throughout the year. Full details of the 675 partners signed up to the RD, the pledges they have signed up to and their annual updates are available on the RD website at:
	https://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/partners/
	As at 5 June 2014, more than 70% of expected reports had been submitted for the 2013-14 reporting cycle.
	Partners new to the RD (signed up after 1 October 2013) and those signed up to new pledges launched during 2013, were not expected to provide an annual update. Other partners signed up to one or more of the majority of collective pledges were asked to provide an annual update.
	The RD reporting cycle does not always map with organisations’ cycles (for example clearance at board level) and end of fiscal year is a busy period for most partners. Some updates will also be in a ‘draft’ status where they are partly completed by partners and not yet submitted. This means there can be delays, and we expect further submissions over the next few months. Partners can also update their submissions in-year, reporting on further progress made.

Heart Diseases: Children

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the recommendations of the Leeds Children's Heart Surgery Services Review, published on 13 March 2014, if he will make it his policy that continuing audits of performance should be conducted at all children's heart surgery units.

Jane Ellison: NHS England and the regulators constantly monitor the outcomes at all children's cardiac centres. These data are provided regularly by the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research. Specialised commissioning is currently reviewing the type of information that it analyses as part of the ongoing new Congenital Heart Disease Review into these services.

Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of women who are receiving IVF treatment who have been diagnosed with hypothalamic amenorrhoea.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held centrally.

Medical Records: Databases

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Health and Social Care Information Centre takes to ensure that all its registers are complete and can be easily cross-referenced.

Daniel Poulter: As part of continuous improvement, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) will continue to review the completeness of all the registers that are being released. The HSCIC has committed to publishing details of all approved data releases including the purpose for which data were released, on a quarterly basis and continues to welcome scrutiny of these registers and feedback and will ensure that any genuine omissions are incorporated within these updates.

Medical Records: Databases

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 330W, on medical records: data protection, for what reason the Health and Social Care Information Centre's register of approved data releases does not contain entries on the Data Access Advisory Group (DAAG) register of approved applications for (a) Department of Health Dental and Eye Care Analytical Team DAAG application reference 240413-a, (b) HCV Research UK DAAG application reference MR1316, (c) Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust section 251 notification DAAG application reference MR1320 and (d) UK Biobank DAAG application reference MR1109.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) register as published on 3 April 2014 only covers data releases approved and data released by the HSCIC within the period 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2013.
	The applications the hon. Member refers to have been approved by the Data Access Advisory Group (DAAG) but are not included on the HSCIC Register of Approved data releases as they are not within the scope outlined for the following reasons:
	(a) Department of Health Dental and Eye Care Analytical Team DAAG application reference 240413-a, this request was for additional access for an individual field by Department of Health through the Business Objects online system, access to which was approved prior to 1 April 2014. This means of access has subsequently been replaced, and the Department’s access to the new system is covered by row id 373 in the approved release register;
	(b) HCV Research UK DAAG application reference MR1316—the release of data to this customer has not yet been approved by the HSCIC;
	(c) Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust section 251 notification DAAG application reference MR1320—the applicant has received no data from the HSCIC within the time period; and
	(d) UK Biobank DAAG application reference MR1109—this was approved prior to 1 April 2013.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which mental health services he and each Minister in his Department have visited since they were appointed; and what the date of each such visit was.

Daniel Poulter: The following list provides details of the visits undertaken by the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) and his ministerial team to mental health services in an official capacity, since their appointment.
	Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt):
	6 February 2014
	Redwoods Centre, South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust
	13 March 2014
	Springfield Hospital, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
	1 May 2014
	East London NHS Foundation Trust
	Minister of State for Care and Support (Norman Lamb):
	13 November 2012
	Raid Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
	19 December 2012
	South London and Maudsley NHS Mental Health Trust
	7 February 2013
	The Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme and Child and Adolescent, Mental Health services project, Oxford
	4 July 2013
	Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust
	19 August 2013
	Leicester Mental Health Triage Care Project
	5 September 2013
	Gnosall Surgery, Stafford
	12 September 2013
	Yeovil Hospital
	12 September 2013
	Royal United Hospital, Bath
	31 October 2013
	Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust
	19 December 2013
	Broadmoor Hospital
	3 January 2014
	Bethnal Green Police Station (Bi-lateral visit with Damian Green MP Home Office), London (A Liaison and Diversion scheme, this scheme brings together three large mental health trusts)
	17 February 2014
	Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Crisis Resolution Service
	12 March 2014
	Humphrey Booth Resource Centre, Manchester
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health (Dr Daniel Poulter):
	11 July 2013
	Disraeli School and Children’s Centre, High Wycombe
	17 October 2013
	Parkview Clinic, Birmingham Children's Hospital
	8 May 2014
	Bethlem Royal Hospital—Channi Kumar Mother and Baby Unit (Perinatal mental health)
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health (Earl Howe):
	18 April 2012
	BuddyApp—Mental health innovation product launch—Maudsley Hospital
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health (Jane Ellison):
	15 April 2014
	Roshni Ghar Mental Health Charity, Keighley.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when NHS England's review of Tier 4 Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services provision will be complete.

Norman Lamb: This mapping exercise looking at Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health services has been completed. NHS England is now formulating an implementation plan and is preparing to publish a report of the exercise along with the implementation plan as soon as possible via the governance processes of NHS England.
	The implementation will proceed via two distinct phases recognising that there are urgent actions which need to be taken to improve access and to reduce long distance referrals. The second phase will focus on the more medium-term actions required. The implementation plan when finalised, will be clear about the timescales.

Motor Vehicles: Smoking

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to bring forward secondary legislation on (a) banning smoking in cars with children in them and (b) the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco.

Jane Ellison: The Children and Families Act 2014 provides regulation-making powers for the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco and banning smoking in cars.
	Regulations for making it an offence to smoke in private vehicles carrying children are being drafted at present.
	A final, short consultation in order to ensure that a final decision on whether to introduce standardised packaging is properly and fully informed will be published shortly.

NHS Property Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what salary the Chair of NHS Property Services receives for (a) that role and (b) his other roles in the Department of Health and the NHS; and for what hours he is contracted to work in each of his roles.

Daniel Poulter: Mr Robin Williams holds the following positions within Department/National Health Service organisations:
	Chair of NHS Property Services Limited (NHS PS)
	He receives a directors’ fee of £60,000 per annum, less any tax and/or national insurance contributions payable monthly in arrears for this role. He is required to devote 10 days a month to this role. He was appointed in April 2014.
	Non-Executive Chair of NHS Professionals Limited (NHSP)
	He receives a directors’ fee of £60,000 per annum, less any tax and or national insurance contribution payable monthly in arrears for this role. He is required to devote eight days a month to this role. He was appointed in January 2010.
	The workload on both posts is such that the time commitment is the monthly average over the year. On his appointment to NHS PS, he formally confirmed his other commitments did not prevent him fulfilling his contractual obligations to NHSP.

Palliative Care

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent employees of his Department are engaged in forward planning to 2030 for end-of-life care.

Norman Lamb: There are currently 2.9 full-time equivalent staff in the Department working exclusively on policy areas in Domain 2 of the NHS Outcomes Framework, which includes end-of-life care.
	Since April 2013, NHS England has been responsible for delivering improvements in end-of-life care, with Public Health England responsible for providing information and data on this policy area.
	Forward planning for future end-of-life care needs is considered by all three organisations as part of their responsibility for policy development.

Pregnant Women: Alcoholic Drinks

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government-funded education and support on alcohol consumption during pregnancy is available to pregnant women.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s 2008 guideline includes recommendations for doctors and midwives on the advice they should give to pregnant women about drinking alcohol.
	This advice is complemented by Government funded information provided through the Start4Life Information Service for Parents, Start4Life and NHS Choices websites.
	The Government fund the Start4Life Information Service for Parents, which provides pregnant women/new mothers and their partners with comprehensive advice on staying healthy in pregnancy, preparing for birth and looking after their baby, and includes advice on risks of drinking before conception and during pregnancy.
	The Information Service for Parents is a digital service which provides national health service and other quality assured advice, including on alcohol consumption via regular text and e-mail updates. Since launching on 18 May 2012, 339,277 new parents have signed up to the service (as of 1 June 2014).
	The Government are also committed to improving the labelling of alcoholic drinks, including a warning for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.
	As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alcohol retailers and producers have a responsibility to help raise this awareness and are committed to putting an agreed warning or a pregnancy warning logo on 80% of labels on bottles and cans by the end of 2013. An independent market survey is under way to measure compliance.

Public Health England

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who used to work in his Department have taken up jobs at Public Health England; and what their job titles and salary levels (a) were at his Department and (b) are at Public Health England.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) was established as an Executive Agency of the Department of Health on 1 April 2013. 184 staff from the Department were transferred to PHE as part of a planned transfer of functions. Their terms and conditions of employment, job titles and salary levels all remained the same.
	PHE has since appointed 21 staff formerly employed by the Department as set out below. These appointments were made following competitive selection procedures carried out in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.
	
		
			 PHE job title1 PHE salary level Change (if any) 
			 Head of Engagement Grade 6 (Inner London) Promotion 
		
	
	
		
			 Programmes Manager SEO (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Deputy Director of Strategy SCS1  
			 Integration Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Head of Operations and Corporate Management Grade 6 (Inner London)  
			 Healthy Adults Coordinator Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Tobacco Control Programme Manager Grade 7 (National) Pay reduction 
			 Head of One to One Marketing Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Deputy Director—International Commercial Healthcare Policy SCS1  
			 Programmes and Policy Manager Grade 7 (National)  
			 Business Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Strategy Unit Team Member Grade 7 (National) Promotion 
			 Head of Planning Grade 6 ((Inner London)  
			 Integration and Engagement Manager Grade 7 (National) Promotion 
			 Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships SCS1 Promotion 
			 Strategic Partnership Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Engagement and Policy Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Expert Adviser—Behavioural Insight Grade 6 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Senior Nutrition Science Officer SEO (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Head of Communications Drugs and Alcohol Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Senior Alcohol Policy Adviser HEO (Inner London)  
			 1 Previous Department of Health job title not available. 
		
	
	PHE’s salary levels were published in November 2012 in the Public Health England People Transition Policy Module 2 and can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213175/single-combined-document.pdf
	Senior civil service salary levels are set centrally by the Cabinet Office. The range for SCS1 is £60,000 to £117,800.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 132W, on radiotherapy and with reference to section 3 of the guidance issued by Monitor on the Commissioning of Radiosurgery Services on 4 April 2014, which primary care trusts in the south west of England commissioned treatment with the gamma knife at University College Hospital London for patients before 1 April 2013.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has advised that no primary care trusts in the south west of England commissioned gamma knife treatment for patients at University College Hospital London before 1 April 2013.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 132W, on radiotherapy, and with reference to section 3 of the guidance issued by Monitor on the Commissioning of Radiosurgery Services on 4 April 2014, 
	(1)  for what reasons NHS England is not funding patients to be treated with the gamma knife at University College Hospital London;
	(2)  with reference to section 3 of the guidance issued by Monitor on the Commissioning of Radiosurgery Services on 4 April 2014, if he will require NHS England to publish the evidence on which it based its decision not to allow patients to be treated with the gamma knife at University College Hospital London.

Jane Ellison: Section 3 of Monitor’s substantive guidance on ‘The National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No.2) Regulations 2013’ provides guidance to commissioners on publishing new contract opportunities for national health service health care services.
	On page 42 of the guidance, it states that:
	"a commissioner may decide to carry out a detailed review of the provision of particular services (for example, A&E services) in its local area in order to understand how those services can be improved in the interests of patients. The review may involve extensive public consultation and engagement with existing and potential providers and other stakeholders. Reviewing available services and providers in this way is good commissioning practice and something that commissioners should consider doing as a matter of course."
	In its role as commissioner, NHS England is currently undertaking such a review of stereotactic radiosurgery services. This will inform procurement decisions for these services.
	University College London Hospital is not contracted by NHS England, nor was it contracted by former primary care trusts, to provide Gamma Knife services. It is for this reason that NHS patients cannot normally be treated at this facility. Instead, NHS patients requiring Gamma Knife treatment should be treated by the Gamma Knife services commissioned by the NHS, that have been shown to meet NHS England service specifications. These can be accessed by patients in London without a waiting time, fully maintaining the continuity of their care and normally with the same consultant and clinical team.
	Until the capacity requirements are made clear as part of the review being undertaken, NHS England has said that it would be inappropriate to encourage new market entrants to provide this service as it cannot be clear what the potential consequential impacts on service quality, sustainability (financial and clinical) and potential unintended changes to patient pathways will be. Until the review is complete NHS England has said no substantive changes will be made to the current provision.

Tomography

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure access to CT scanning is more readily available to NHS patients.

Jane Ellison: All acute trusts have access to computerised tomography (CT) and NHS England is not aware of any patient access problems. The NHS England standards for seven day services support seven day access to CT. CT involves ionising radiation, so is a test that has to be justified and used in appropriate patient pathways.

EDUCATION

Chief Social Worker for Children and Families

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what public speeches the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families has made since taking up her post; and where those speeches are published; [R]
	(2)  what meetings (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families since she took up her post. [R]

Edward Timpson: Since starting as the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in September 2013, Isabelle Trowler has spoken at a wide range of events. In particular she has made presentations to and engaged in discussion with more than 2,500 social workers to support and challenge the profession and spoke at the National Fostering Association conference on 13 May 2014. Isabelle's presentations are not published.
	As the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, Isabelle provides independent expert advice to Ministers on social work reform. She meets the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and other Ministers in the Department for Education frequently to discuss her ideas for social work reform and to provide policy advice.

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children in care in residential children's homes who have been placed outside their local authority area. [R]

Edward Timpson: This information is available in Table A3 of “Children looked after in England, including adoption” statistical first release:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption

Children: Abuse

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to liaise with the Secretary of State for Health over publication of reports into historic child abuse.

Edward Timpson: Officials from the Department for Education are already working closely with other relevant Departments to ensure that there is a consistent approach to investigations into allegations of historical child abuse, including on the publication of reports.

Passports

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations his Department has received from families groups on allowing the names of parents and legal guardians to be included on a child's passport.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has no record of family groups (or anyone else) making representations on this matter.

Private Education: Offences Against Children

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, columns 59-61W, on private education: offences against children, how many referrals the National College for Teaching and Leadership has (a) received and (b) acted upon since that body's establishment.

Edward Timpson: The National College for Teaching and Leadership has received 40 referrals from independent schools in respect of matters outlined in the answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, columns 59-61W.
	All of these referrals have been considered, or are in the course of being considered, in accordance with the procedures outlined in that answer.

Pupils: Foreign Nationals

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils in (a) infant schools, (b) junior schools, (c) secondary schools and (d) sixth form colleges in (i) Liverpool, (ii) the North West and (iii) England are non-UK nationals.

David Laws: The Department for Education does not collect information on the nationality of pupils and students.

Teachers: Offences Against Children

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what records his Department maintains of instances where a teacher has had a sexual relationship with a student under the age of 16 years in (a) maintained schools and (b) independent schools.

Edward Timpson: Since April 2012, where a teacher has been dismissed, or resigned in the face of dismissal, as a result of serious misconduct all schools have had a statutory duty to consider referring the matter to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL). The NCTL acts as the regulator of the teaching profession on behalf of the Secretary of State. It is responsible for determining whether the referred individual should be prohibited from teaching on the grounds of unacceptable professional conduct, conduct that might bring the profession into disrepute and/or conviction of a relevant offence. Information about cases considered by NCTL is not held in the format requested and to obtain the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.
	In addition to the NCTL process for regulating teachers, the Department’s Independent Education and Boarding Team (IEBT) administer the wider regulatory system for independent schools. This team can receive information about allegations of abuse from a variety of sources, including Ofsted, local authorities, parents and the police. The Department’s records show that there have been five referrals since April 2012 and two from January 2009 to March 2012 where sexual abuse of a pupil by an adult working at the school was a factor. When such referrals are received, the Department’s role is not to investigate the allegations, which are a matter for the local authority and the police, but to determine whether the school is meeting the independent school standards, and take action to ensure it does so.